Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1948)

Monday, January 19, 1948 motion Picture Daily 3 Reviews "To the Ends of the Earth" {Columbia) WITH a pronounced leaning toward the documentary in treatment, "To the Ends of the Earth" tells the story of an international opium ring and how Dick Powell, agent of the Narcotics Bureau of the U. S. Treasury Department, succeeds in smashing it. The original story and screenplay, by Jay Richard Kennedy, who was associated with Sidney Buchman in the production, are a combination of fact and fiction. However the ingredients were mixed, the results make for an attention-holding, if lurid and fantastic, yarn of the growth of the illicit poppy with considerable explanation of how it is manufactured into opium and turned loose on the market. The story starts in San Francisco and carries Powell to China, Egypt, Cuba and New York Harbor before the trail ends. Everywhere in his travels, he enlists the aid of law enforcement agencies in his relentless tracking down of the ring-leader, who proves to be an hitherto unsuspected Chinese girl presumably a victim of the Japanese and now in the sympathetic care of Signe Hasso. The fact is the guilty one actually is working for the Japanese High Command which seeks to further a blueprint of conquest by spreading the use of opium among susceptible nations, as has been reported often in the instance of China. In the factual approach which the producers and the director, Robert Stevenson, have essayed, it well may be argued that fidelity to detail exceeds the requirements of the story and of the public interest. For example, carefully explained pictorially and in dialogue is the exact stage at which the poppy arrives at its fruition. With some glossings over, what are evidently the major steps in the processes of conversion from plant to actual drug are described and shown. One elaborate method, at least, of moving the finished product from factory to ultimate consumer is unfolded in minute detail. Practically all of this step-by-step procedure is unfurled with suspense so that, dramatically, interest is well maintained. The subject, until now sparingly touched upon in Hollywood, traces its existence to a recent amendment of the Production Code whereby the original prohibition against the dgpiction of narcotics on the screen was revised to clear the way for this film. It is on record that this amendment has been sharply criticized in various quarters on the ground it has opened a facet of story material not in the best causes of the mass audience which motion pictures serve. A large supporting cast, like the principals, delivers a professionally satisfactory job. In addition to playing the lead, Powell is on the off -screen narrative track almost uninterruptedly from beginning to end. Running time, 109 minutes. Adult audience classification. Release date, not set. Red Kann "Kings of the Olympics, Part V' (Westport International Films, Inc.) ALL of the gruelling excitement of the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin is revealed in this splendidly-photographed, 60-minute subject More than 5,300 athletes from 51 nations competed in the sports festival and this pictorial record of the event was made by some 600 cameramen. With this year's Olympic Games coming up shortly, the subject, aside from its innate drama and appeal, has an added timeliness and interest. Because of the large number of events, the footage has been edited into two films of approximately one hour each, with Part II to be released shortly. Part I centers chiefly about the track, field and swimming events with many well-remembered stars coming back into the spotlight as they crack world records. Narration is by Bill Slater. American distribution for the film is now being negotiated. Running time, 60 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, not set. Mandel Herbstman 4 Firms Cleared of 'Conspiracy* in Suit Buffalo, Jan. 18. — Federal Judge Harold T. Burke on Friday dismissed charges against three of 12 motion picture companies involved in a $300,000 damage suit brought by Bordonaro Brothers of Olean, N. Y. Charges against RKO and Universal were dismissed because they are parent corporations, respectively, of RKO Radio Pictures, Inc. and Universal Film Exchanges, Inc., and were not shown by the evidence to have had any part in the alleged conspiracy to prevent the Palace theatre, owned by the plaintiffs, from obtaining first-run fi'i vthe court held. -'•krges asrainst Warner Bros. Pictures Distributing Corp. were dismissed on grounds that the evidence showed that at no time had the plaintiffs attempted to purchase Warner product. Charges against Big U. Film Exchange, Inc., were dismissed earlier. 'Loop' Decree (Continued from page 1) monopolistic practices by distributors and several Loop theatres. The distributors now must answer the demand, and a date has not been set for the hearing. The Jackson Park Theatre claimed that certain pictures had been withheld from the Chicago area after first runs in the United Artists and Chicago theatres in violation of the injunction against "creating dead or waiting time" between conclusion of the firstrun and neighborhood showings. Paramount, in addition, was charged with contempt for licensing the film "Unconquered" for more than the twoweek_ limit placed on first-run Loop showings in the injunction. It is claimed that 20th Century-Fox and RKO Radio have established zones which keep the Jackson Park from freely bidding on first-run pictures after completion of the original showing. Loew's and Warner Theatres also were claimed against as well as the local Balaban and Katz organization. Conspiracy to set admission prices was alleged in connection with the move-over showing of the film "Forever Amber." Among individuals charged with contempt were Louis Phillips, assistant general counsel of Paramount, and Spyros P. Skouras, president of 20th-Fox. Smith-Mundt Bill (Continued from page 1) by direct purchase of films or perhaps limited defrayment of out-of-pocket expenses. _A slightly different version of the bill has already passed the House, and the two versions now go to conference. Speedy agreement on the Senate bill is expected. Any Government aid to the industry wjll come via a section urging the State Department to use private agencies in the Overseas Information Program to the maximum extent practicable. The bill originally said, "insofar as is practicable," but this was strengthened by an amendment by Sen. Ball' who contended that private agencies cost" much' less than Government sponsored information programs. Once the bill passes both houses the initiative will move to the State Department for working out with industry exactly how the Government can use and help the film companies. Swap Appeal Briefs (Continued from page 1) independents and in holding that interests of five to 95 per cent in independent theatres were illegal. The defendants took issue with the court's contention that joint ownerships were illegal per se. The decision was protested for enjoining the exhibitor defendants from engaging in new competition. It was further held that the court was mistaken in directing that competitive bidding be adopted as the sole means of licensing pictures. The RKO brief contended that the absolute prohibition of theatre acquisitions "restrains, rather than promotes, lawful competition and is inconsistent with the objectives of the Sherman Act." It held the court in error in preventing agreements with licensees on minimum admission prices, and in holding that it lacked power to continue the arbitration system established in the consent decree. Loews' argued that "the District Court erred in decreeing that whenever any clearance provision is attacked as not legal under the provisions of this decree, the burden shall be upon the distributor to sustain the legality thereof." Canada Tax Going (Continued from page 1) Province of Ontario could restore its 10 per cent amusement tax. A share of this tax would be "awarded" to municipalities for hospital and relief agency expenditures borne by cities and towns. Dropping of the Federal war tax is expected at the end of the fiscal year, on March 31, when Abbott will probably be presenting his budget in the House of Commons. Theatremen look upon_ the development as a mixed blessing while conceding that Mayor Saunders has scored a victory in his crusade for a municipal share of amusement taxation. Riley, Manufacturer, Backing del Giudice London, Jan. 18. — Filippo del Giudice's financial backer is disclosed to be Birmingham glass manufacturer William Grimshal Riley. Riley is a director of del Giudice's Pilgrim Pictures, and has guaranteed 30,000 pounds ($120,000). Riley says he has no acquaintance with the industry, but was impressed with del Giudice's picture-making methods and also merits the producer's pictures as potentially powerful dollarmakers. UA British Deal (Continued from page 1) pie Hunt Stromberg and Edward Small, have scripts and stars ready and the plan can be put into operation as soon as UA's board of directors approves the arrangement. Kelly said he hopes the home office will finalize it within a month. Stromberg's "Return of the Native," with Hedy Lamarr starring, is likely to be the first picture to go into production under the deal, with a continuous flow of other productions to follow, he said. Kelly closed releasing arrangements with Gaumont-British Circuit for the remaining UA product which was here prior to the imposition of the film tax. However, he was unable to close a deal with Odeon Circuit for release of future UA product, despite UA's being a large stockholder in Odeon and despite frequent talks here with J. Arthur Rank, who holds the controlling interest in Odeon. Skouras to UK (Continued from page 1) will include discussions on the British ad valorem tax, and said Motion Picture Association of America president Eric A. Johnston "is the only man who has authority to conduct discussions on this matter." London, Jan. 18.— J. Arthur Rank's associate, John Davis, has been given complete charge of the reorganization and amalgamation of the GaumontBritish and Odeon circuits. Davis has refused to amend Odeon's booking practice notwithstanding a recent request for a change made by United Artists' executive vice-president Arthur W. Kelly. Higher Film Costs (Continued from page 1) ing" independent producers by as much as 60 to 70 per cent of picture budgets. He held that making pictures in color can compensate immeasurably for lack of star values if the story is good. He said, too, that he regards those major companies "foolish" which discontinued production of "breadand-butter" "B" pictures because studio overhead now must be absorbed by fewer films, causing a step-up in production costs for those companies. Next on ARPI's schedule, Presnell disclosed, is "Sofia," a story of Balkan intrigue which will be filmed in Cinecolor at RKO Radio's Churubusco studios in Mexico City. Presnell's associate is John Reinhardt 'Queen's' Film Passengers London, Jan. 18.— David Rose, Joseph Mankiewicz, David Niven and Mrs. Niven, Rex Harrison, Lilli Palmer and Arthur W. Kelly are among those who sailed for the U. S. today on the 5". 5". Qwen Elizabeth.