Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1948)

DO N FIRST IN FILM NEWS ?$$&TION PICTURE Accurate Concise and Impartial I V VO 63. NO. 13 NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1948 TEN CENTS U.S.Companies In London Hit Price Advance Added Remittances Are Barred Under CEA Plan By PETER BURNUP London, Jan. 19. — American distributors here have reacted vigorously against a proposal that the Cinematograph Exhibitors Association seek the British government's consent to an admission price rise. Conditions of the proposal are that there will be no entertainment tax embodied in the increase, and that no part of the increase, where American films are involved, shall be remitted to the U. S. British exhibitors have been clamoring for an admission price increase because of increased film rentals and theatre operating costs. They claim that while they were able to bear such increased expenses during the wartime {Continued on page 4) CEA Weighs Fight on Tax London, Jan. 19. — An all-out exhibitor campaign to tell the British public through the medium of the nation's screens the extent to which exhibitors have been harmed by the consequences of the British ad valorem tax on American films is being planned here, according to a Cinematograph Exhibitors Association spokesman. Many British exhibitors feel that "the time has passed" when British Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Stafford Cripps' edicts must be accepted without question. More cautious CEA members, however, hold that the in (Continued on page 4) Rep. Hagen Files for Admission Tax Slash Washington, Jan. 19. — A bill calling for a cut in the Federal admission tax to the prewar 10 per cent rate was introduced in the House today by Representative Hagen, who would make the cut effective June 30, 1948. UK Prepared to Put Freeze On Reissue Remittances London, Jan. 19. — The British government is said to have prepared plans to freeze remittances on American reissues and all other films imported prior to the imposition of the ad valorem duty last August. If and when an anticipated financial crisis arrives, the government's remittance freeze plans are expected to be put into operation at once. April will see the end of all AngloAmerican film dealings, is the view accepted generally here, Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Stafford Cripps has indicated officially that if emergency financial aid is not made available to England by then the nation will find itself in the throes of an economic catastrophe. As pointed out in Motion Picture Daily on Jan. 7, a financial crisis of the first magnitude will force Britain to adopt self-sufficiency methods. ATA Files Brief On Auction Bids Washington, Jan. 19. — The American Theatres Association has filed its brief on competitive bidding in the U. S. Supreme Court as an intervenor in the Government's . New York antitrust suit against the industry. In appealing from the decision of the New York district court ATA attacked the ruling establishing auction bidding as "an invalid exercise of the court's power" which, if enforced, will result in "irreparable injury to appellant intervenors and all other independent exhibitors." The brief contends the decree failed to achieve its purpose because "it compels buyers in the market for films to submit to market regulations formulated by the court and enforced by the concerted action of sellers who (.Continued on page 5) ACLU Brief Asks Theatre Separation Monopolistic trends in the film industry were held to be a threat to freedom of the press, in a brief filed yesterday in U. S. Supreme Court by the American Civil Liberties Union. Asserting that films, like radio, are part of the country's "press," and that freedom to read, see or hear are implied in freedom to publish or produce, the Union's brief supports the Attorney General's demand that the (Continued on page 5) Young 'Looking at' Both RKO and UA A "group of private investors" associated with Robert R. Young, head of Pathe Industries, "has been looking at both RKO and United Artists with a view toward possible investment, but to date nothing has come of it," Young said in a statement issued here yesterday. The statement added: "Whether agreement can be reached on price and other factors is a question for the future to decide." Trade observers were of the opinion that Young's statement was prompted by the omission of mention of his interest in buying into RKO when Floyd Odium of Atlas Corp. confirmed (Continued on page 4) Budgets Extended For Arbitration Appropriations for the maintenance of the industry arbitration system from Feb. 1 until such time as the U. S. Supreme Court determines .appeals in the Government's New York anti-trust suit against the industry will be continued by major distribution companies, it was learned here yesterday. The fiscal year for the arbitration system ends on Feb. 1. In addition, terms of the three arbitration appeals board members expire on the same date, but will be renewed, also, until the Supreme Court has decided the appeals. If the high court rules against continuance of the industry arbitration system it will be liquidated thereafter. Otherwise, present indications are ar(Continued on page 4) I. A. Plans 4 Films At $7,000,000 Cost Hollywood, Jan. 19. — Declaring its faith in the motion picture business, Independent Artists today announced a four-picture production schedule budgeted at $7,000,000 for 1948. In addition to the completed "The Velvet Touch," the schedule includes an untitled Dudley Nichols film, "Madly in Love," "New Model," with Rosalind Russell, the latter three at $1,500,000 each, and a $2,000,000 Technicolor subject to be selected. BillWouldAdd Music Tax to Film Rentals Sponsored by Rep. Lewis; Allied Backing Is Seen Washington, Jan. 19. — A bill to force Ascap to deal exclusively with film producers and to release exhibitors of all license or other royalty payments was introduced in the house today by Representative Lewis. The bill, presumably backed by by Allied States, sponsor of a similar one a number of years ago, takes on added importance from the fact . that Lewis is chairman of the House Judiciary sub-committee on Patents and Copyrights, which will have to pass on the measure. Representative Celler, ranking Democrat on the Judiciary committee, has disclosed plans to introduce legis (Continued on page 4) N. Y. Grosses Satisfactory Business at New York's first-run downtown theatres ranges from moderate to good this week, with "The Paradine Case," at Radio City Music Hall, and "An Ideal Husband," at the Roxy, leading the field. The former, plus a stage show, grossed $86,000 Friday through Sunday, looks like $135,000 in a second week. "Husband," with songstress Ilona Massey on stage, rang up $75,000 Wednesday through Sunday, and the first week is expected to bring in $90,000. Four new pictures will bow in this (Continued on page 4) Jackson Park Case Hearing Thursday Chicago, Jan. 19. — Attorneys for a number of officers, directors and agents of various companies are scheduled to appear in Federal Judge Michael Igoe's court here on Thursday in an action to show cause why they should not be cited in contempt for alleged violations of the Jackson Park Theatre decree. The citations were sought last Friday against more than a dozen corporations and individuals by Jackson Park attorneys.