Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1948)

Thursday. April 15. 194S Motion picture Daily 5 US Films Overfill Japanese Theatres Washington, April 14. — Japanese theatres showing American films to Jap audiences are packed to 110 per cent of capacity, and all such houses have long lines of natives awaiting admission, reports Brig. Gen. Robert A. McClure, chief of the Xew York field office of the Army Civil Affairs Division, who has just returned from a month's survey in Japan. Gen. McClure is not enthusiastic, ho^ttl". about the type of American filnf*jeing shown. "Unfortunately," McClure said, "too many films have been of the Wild West, Billy-theButcher-Boy type. While these may appeal to Japanese tastes," he continues, "it is part of our program of education to induce them to see a better type. In this desire of ours we have the backing of Eric Johnston and his Motion Picture Association of America. We have reason to expect that we will succeed." McClure said that the American information center in Korea uses as its symbol an 18-inch figure of Mickey Mouse. All the Koreans who were asked what they thought would be the most recognizable symbol of the U. S. agreed on Mickey Mouse. Italy's 'Thanks' to Be Released by 20th "Thanks. America," produced in Italy and financed by public subscription as an expression of Italian gratitude for food and clothing shipped by Americans, will be distributed immediately to U. S. theatres, Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, announced here yesterday. Distribution will be through 20th Centurv-Fox. Reviews "Another Part of the Forest" ( Universal-International) Hollywood, April 14 BRILLIANT production and performances characterize this picturization of Lillian Hellman's stage success depicting a decadent American family whose similarly decadent descendants were dramatized in the same playwright's "Litde Foxes." An essentially similar story, accentuating chicanery, avarice, deceit and treachery, it diligently explores the venality of all principal characters and ends on a fatalistic note with the depraved eldest son of a depraved family head triumphant The box-office prosperity of "Little Foxes" argues that this likewise skillful, but depressing, study in evil can thrive commercially also, in spite of recent disappointing returns chalked up to films concentrating on degradation. A marquee magnetism cast including Fredric March, Dan Duryea, Edmund O'Brien, Ann Blyth, Florence Eldridge and Donna Drake, presupposes strong opening business. March powerfully portrays a hated merchant money-lender in a small Southern town which still is smarting in 1880 from the Confederacy's defeat He abusively dominates his loyal wife (Miss Eldridge), his scheming sons (O'Brien and Duryea) but humors his secretly immoral daughter (Miss Blyth) who seeks marriage into local society-. Plotted against by all his children, in an intricate maze of avaricious conspirings, deceptions and' double crosses, he loses control, ultimately-, to O'Brien following the latter's discoverythat his father is an unidentified traitor on whom the townsfolk have vowed lynch vengeance. Picture ends with all characters, save the mother's, deteriorated completely. Production by Jerry Bresler, direction by Michael Gordon and script by Vladimir Pozner are uniformly excellent. Running time, 107 minutes. Adult classification. Release date, net set. William R. Weaver Short Subject "Life with Junior" (March of Time—20th-Fox) The social world of the small child, a distinctive world all its own, is entertainingly explored in this latest March of Time, which also provides the answers to some baffling questions concerning junior's personality. A subject to evoke audience response, it also deals seriously with the problems of the "difficult" child. Running time, 18 minutes. 93 Donation to Italians U. S. film companies have voted to give 3,000,000 lira (S6,000) to restore the Compo Santo (cemetery ) in Pisa. Italy, it has been disclosed here by Gerald M. Mayer. Motion Picture Association of America's international director. Para. Video (Continued from page 1) why it shouldn't develop so that theatres in any other city could have it The Paramount television method involves recording the event on film within 66 seconds after it comes off the television tube and then flashing it_on the screen by means of standard 35mm projection. The boxing bouts last night were relayed from their source at the Navy Y. M. C. A. in Brooklyn by microwave relay to the roof of the News Building and then to the Paramount Building where it was recorded on film and flashed on the screen within the 66 seconds. Reception was impossible for a television receiver other than the one in the projection booth of the theatre. Two boxing bouts lasting 18 minutes were shown and the images were sharp and effective. Audience response was marked. When one fighter was floored, a wave of excitement went through the theatre. When the decision was given, spontaneous applause mingled with sounds of dissatisfaction. Raibourn disclosed that a poll was taken to determine the audience reaction. Asked about the possibility of bringing the Joe Louis-Joe Walcott fight to the theatre. Raibourn re (The Lady from Shanghai (Columbia) AS those in the trade know, Rita Hayworth is a name to make just about any showman's marquee twinkle invitingly. For her leading man in this cloudy melodrama of murder and retribution, Columbia has provided her with Orson Welles who also handled such versatile chores here as producer, director and writer of the screenplay. Throughout the story there broods an atmosphere of morbid expectancy, but what gives the picture an exceptional quality are the adroit camera angles in which most of the action is focussed. Welles, an Irish merchantsailor, becomes strangely attracted to Miss' Hayworth, and presently is invited by her crippled lawyer husband, Everett Sloane, to go along as deck mate on a luxury cruise. There subsequently pile up sinister doings which result in Welles being neatly framed for murder. Something of the fascination of a sight-seeing travelogue takes place as the cruise departs from New York, goes through the Panama Canal and winds up in San Francisco. While the drama, which departs from formula all the way, manages always to be engrossing, the motivations do not always ring true. Quite a powerful note ends the film, in which the real conspirators, Miss Hayworth and Sloane. shoot it out with one another in an amusement park mirror maze. Especially noteworthv characterizations are contributed by Ted de Corsia and Glenn Anders. Welles' off-stage voice narrates the action, based on a Sherwood King novel. .... „ , , Running time, 87 minutes. Adult audience classification. Release date, not Mandel Herbstman Legion Classifies 15 More Pictures Of 15 additional films classified by the Legion of Decency, the following were placed in Class A-I: "Adventures in Silverado" and "Song of Idaho," Columbia; "Fighting Father Dunne," RKO Radio; "Fury at Furnace Creek," 20th Century-Fox ; "Prairie Outlaws," Eagle-Lion. In Class A-II : "Arizona Ranger," RKO ; -Arthur Takes Over," 20th-Fox; "Farrebique" (French), Siritzky International; "Opernball" (German), Wien Film; "River Lad}-," UniversalInternational; "Silver River," Warner. Placed in Class B were : "Anna Karenina," 20th-Fox; "Antoine and Antoinette" (French), Siritzky International ; "Hazard," Paramount ; "Letter from an Unknown Woman," Universal-International. Argentine Ban (Continued from page 1) set. RCA Consolidates Industry Activities Camden, April 14. — Consolidation of RCA motion picture activities into a new theatre and recording equipment section, with Barton Kreuzer as manager, was announced here by Frank M. Folsom, RCA vice-president in charge of the Victor division. The new section consists of the theatre equipment group, the film recording group, and Brenkert Light Projection. J. F. O'Brien heads theatre equipment, Kreuzer is in charge of film recording, and Karl Brenkert is president of Brenkert, in Detroit. vealed that it has been discussed. He said that he didn't think the networks had exclusive rights to the fight and that it might be shown on the Paramount Theatre screen in agreement with Madison Square Garden "at special admissions." When questioned about the cost of developing the special television system, he said that it was "less than $1,000,000." Forrest Will Direct SMPE Study of Color Committee on film preservation of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers, which will devote special study to the working life and preservation of motion pictures in color, has been reorganized under the new chairmanship of Dr. Charles G. Weber, member of the staff of the U. S. Bureau of Standards in Washington, who yesterday appointed J. L. Forrest of Ansco as head of a color study group at a meeting held here. Others at the meeting included: John G. Bradley of the Library of Congress : Robert T. Holland, Ansco ; Terry Ramsaye, editor of Motion Picture Herald; T. F. LoGiudice. SMPE staff engineer; John A. Mauer, engineering vice-president of SMPE. Extend Meyer's Contract Hollywood, April 14. — Contract of Fred S. Meyer. 20th Century-Fox labor relations director, has been extended for another two vears. was seen in the Argentine government's granting permission to U. S. and other foreign distributors to remit all dollars accruing from the limited imports now allowed in that country. The large-scale banning of outside product is said to be related to Argentina's program for eventually nationalizing the film industry in that country^ ; radio already has been nationalized there. The government is understood to be ready to purchase a minimum of 51 per cent of any and all producing and distribution companies operating within its borders. Another reason for the severity of the restrictions is said by Argentinian film interests in New York to be in retaliation for tacit or open refusal of interests or governments of other countries to permit Argentine films to gain a foothold in their markets. Producers of that country turn out about 40 features annually and numerous shorts. Extent of the loss of three-fourths of the Argentine market to U. S. companies could not be determined here, but it is said to be considerable. American companies send some 300 to 400 features to Argentine's 1,500 theatres annually. The new restrictions do not apply to newsreels. THEATRES SELL OR LEASE A THEATRE IN ANY PART OF THE U.S.A. Through B. F. GUDWIN AND CO. BROKERS 135 Broadway. N. Y. 6. N. Y. BArtlay 7-3137 Your Confidences Respected. Your Instructions Followed.