Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1947)

Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, July 16, 194^ Myers Sees Repeal (Continued from page 1) fied as one involved in communication. As a communications industry, films are entitled to the same consideration as newspapers, he indicated. In open discussion on his "sliding scale" formula announced several weeks ago at the New Jersey Allied convention. Andrew W. Smith, Jr., 20th Century-Fox general sales manager, said the company has no formula to arrive at exhibitors' expenses in order to determine their eligibility under the plan. All profits after the 40 per cent level are to be divided equally between the distributor and exhibitor, he added. Smith cited a survey in New Haven where the plan was advantageously applied, he said, to 25 theatres, with seven theatre deals under way. Smith also spoke on the pressure exerted by production cost rises on the box office, and indicated that high negative costs are due to basic wage increases of 57 per cent, talent increases up to 129 per cent and director increases up 134 per cent. Judging from published profits reports, Myers asserted, with production down to about half in the past year, producing companies have not been affected to any degree by mounting costs. In a discussion of state taxes, Roy Brown, Akron law director, announced that Akron's admission tax law, if any is passed, will definitely not exceed three per cent. John King, ITO attorney, reviewed the history of the Ohio amusement tax repeal and advised exhibitors that in order to forestall legislators in cities where tax is certain of passage, they anticipate legislation by proposing a three per cent tax. Reviews Grainger Sees Risk In Advanced Prices Cedar Point, O., July 15. — The demand for increased box-office prices is a "mistake and will eventually bring a substitute for motion pictures," E. C. Grainger, president of Shea Enterprises, warned in a wire to the convention of the Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio. Grainger took issue with "constant fault finding with distributors." He suggested that members of the organization "devote more time to housekeeping, publicity, exploitation, public relations and all-round theatre operation, and less to outsmarting distributors." Excessive costs and prices resulted in motion pictures being substituted for legitimate theatre and vaudeville, Grainger warned. The convention was also urged by Grainger to consider "the problem of the distributor with a $3,000,000 or $4,000,000 negative cost. The convention should constructively admit that a distributor taking such a large gamble should be entitled to a larger share of box-office money at larger admissions, provided, however, the theatres are not used as a convenience for a distributor's greed, and that the exhibitor also gets his just share of the gamble he takes." Re-elected without opposition and by acclamation of the Ohio exhibitors were Martin G. Smith as president, to serve his 18th term; C. W. Huss, Jr., Cincinnati, as first vice-president, and Leo Kessel, treasurer. Henry Greenberger of Cleveland was chosen second vice-president, becoming the first to hold that position. In addition to re-electing the board of directors, the convention added Roy Russell of Millersburg and Roy Wells of Dayton to the board. "Slave Girl" ( l rniversal-International) A GOOD-NATURED frolic, equipped with Technicolor and George Brent's disarming personality, "Slave Girl" rambles pleasantly through a thin story set in the period of the Barbary pirates and enhanced by a talking camel. The camel makes amusing comments throughout the film in what is allegedly a Brooklyn accent, has his scene of glory, and serves to indicate that the entire plot is sheer farce. Brent, an American with an eye for pretty women, is sent to Tripoli on a government mission, bearing a ransom of gold to buy the freedom of ten American seamen held captive by the Pasha, played by Albert Dekker. Brent and. his bodyguard, Broderick Crawford, soon find themselves enmeshed in typical skullduggery, with Yvonne de Carlo involved as a mystery woman and Andy Devine raucously cast as one of the ten seamen. Arthur Treacher as a British captive, adds to the fun. Before the story ends, Brent loses and recovers the ransom, wins Yvonne's love, and successfully frees the seamen and defeats the Pasha and the Pasha's foe, El Hamid, played by Carl Esmond. Light and productive of numerous chuckles, "Slave Girl" ought to be amusing box-office fare. Michael Fessier and Ernest Pagano produced, and wrote the original screenplay, and Charles Lamont directed. Running time, 80 minutes. General audience classification. Release date for July David A. Gordon "The Trespasser" (Republic) A STORY about newspaper personnel and murder is told with hardly an error to mar the production scoreboard in "The Trespasser," a fairly interesting film and likely to prove commercially adequate in its proper market groove. pale Evans, Warren Douglas, Janet Martin and Douglas Fowley are principally concerned in the piece, which George Blair directed for associate producer William J. O'Sullivan. Jerry Sackheim and Erwin Gelsey did the original, Dorrell and Stuart E. McGowan handled the adaptation and Jerry Gruskin contributed the screenplay. _ Miss Martin lands a job in the "morgue-room" of the Gazette and in no time discovers the literary editor is selling spurious first editions of important books to the publisher. The editor, William Bakewell, is murdered and his sister, Miss Evans, and Miss Martin are next in line for a fatal "ride.'' Fowley as feature editor, detective Grant Withers and Douglas as Mist. Martin's boss track down the murderer, a crooked book dealer, and bring him and his aides to book in a blazing pistol climax. Running time, 71 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, July 3. Gene Arneel Set Local, Producers Resume Pact Talks Hollywood, July 15. — The major producers' labor committee and Set Decorators Local No. 1421 today opened collective bargaining negotiations on the basis established by mutual agreement after the breakup of similar meetings undertaken last month. At the close of today's session, union representatives were to consult the membership on two preliminary points which came into question. The next meeting has not yet been set. SRO Negotiating (Continued from page 1) Ascap May Postpone (Continued from page 1) ing legal suits involving ASCAP, one in New York and the other in Minneapolis, are deposed of. The new program which, as originally planned, would mean a general increase in theatre fees, was first disclosed by the late John G. Paine, general manager, but since his death no definitive action in the way of approaching exhibitors has been taken. A group of Ascap executives returned here from Europe yesterday, including Walter Downey, foreign representative ; Richard Murray, head of foreign relations and public relations ; Herman Finkelstein, resident counsel, and Rudolph Nissim. Deems Taylor, Ascap president, is still abroad and is expected back in a few here after a stay of almost five months in the East. Selznick said that "nothing would be taken on that was not capable of achieving multi-million dollar grosses." He added that more than 20 independent pictures had already been turned down by SRO. Neil Agnew, president of SRO, is due here tomorrow to join the conferences with the producers. Commenting on "Duel in the Sun," Selznick said : "I am not maintaining that 'Duel' will do a gross similar to that achieved on 'Gone With the Wind,' but I do sincerely believe that within the next two years it will become the second highest grosser in the annals of the business." Rogers-Autry Packaged Minneapolis, July 15.— Minnesota Amusement Co. is testing the combination of Roy Rogers and Gene Autry as a first-run attraction at the Gopher. If the package clicks, it will go into all of the circuit's situations. The Gopher heretofore has played both stars solo. Levine Sells Rights Joseph E. Levine, President of Discovery Pictures, which is distributing Admiral Richard E. Byrd's picture, "Discovery," has made a deal for the entire world, exclusive of the United States and Canada, with International Optima Corp. Atkins and Allvine Launch Medallion | T. C. Atkins, formerly in charge oi motion pictures for the Army Aid Transport Command, has been electee1 president of Medallion Productions, a new firm with offices at the Highland Studios, Hollywood, and at 17 E> 48th St. here. Glen Allvine, former New York public relations chief foi the Motion Picture Association, ivice-president. Other officers include James J, Petsch, treasurer, and Doro|^-r"Bj Hughes, secretary. Hallam C* _ ' a director. _ Prior to the war, Atkins and Allvine produced a series of pictures forj RKO, with Allvine as producer, and Atkins as director. Allvine will remain in New York at present, workup on distribution and promotion,' while Atkins is in Hollywood working on the first script. A releasing deal for the first picture has been reached, but no commitment has been made for later releases. Business Seen (Continued from page 1) tack on present "listlessness on the part of some of us" as an aftermath of the lucrative past few years when, grosses soared in spite of a minimum of selling effort. "While we all recognize that busi ness in general is off a little, theatre^ business is off a little too much," Reagan said. Urges 'Effort, Ingenuity' He urged extra effort, ingenuity and resourcefulness in presenting, product to the public and offered Paramount's recent experience in selling "Dear Ruth" as evidence of the effectiveness of applied showmanship. Here, he said, as the result of added promotional push, including an increase of $200,000 in selling budget, a picture which met with only moderate success in its first engagements with a normal advertising and pub'icity campaign, is now apparently destined to wind up as one of the "best 10, 12 or 15" top grossers of the season. The lukewarm returns brought by "Dear Ruth" in San Francisco, Wash: ington and Denver pointed to a na tional distribution gross of only about ■ a couple of millions," the same as Suddenly It's Spring," Reagan reported. However, he added, "the picture merited better boxoffice than the [ initial grosses indicated." Developed Radio Campaign "We were not satisfied," he continued, "and consequently developed a radio campaign greater than ever in past" in subsequent engagements in Kansas City, St. Louis, Pittsburgh i and Oakland. Spot announcements, J chain breaks, special screenings and i other devices stimulated peak audi >i ence interest, he said. Reagan ventured that because of this intensified approach an additional $6,000,000 to $8,000,000 will pass . through the boxoffices of the coun ) try, additional, that is, to the returns , of an ordinary picture. "There has 1 been nothing like it since 'Going My Way'," he added. Reagan concluded his discussion , with : "Business can be just as good , as our showmanship can make it." On another subject, Reagan indicated that Paramount is altering its I general sales policy, but reported that no conclusions have been reached as yet. •j