Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1948)

FIRST IN FILM NEWS MOTION PICT*%J. Accurate Concise and Impartial \^&f 63. NO. 114 NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, JUNE 14, 1948 TEN CENTS 1st Twin City MGM Bids for Subsequents See System Possibly Extended in the State Minneapolis, June 13. — ■ Sales policy precedent has been established here by Metro-GoldwynMayer with its invitation to Twin Cities independent neighborhood exhibitors to bid for its product for the first time fn Minneapolis-St. Paul. This was disclosed when the operators of the Richfield and Boulevard theatres were notified that M-G-M would accept bids from the two houses on future releases. "The State of the Union", is expected to be the first to be set up for bidding. Formerly an account of Metro, the Boulevard is zoned for a 56-day clearance after first-run, and the Richfield, located less than two miles distant in suburban Richfield, has not used M-G-M product since the house opened last year. The latter has been (Continued on page 3) Decisions Please Independents: Myers Washington, June 13. — Independent exhibitors are "well pleased" with the Supreme Court decisions in the industry cases, Abram F. Myers, Allied States chairman and general counsel, reported at the weekend after attendance at exhibitor meetings in many parts of the country during the past month. The decisions were the principal topic of discussion at the meetings. Myers said that independents feel a new "code of conduct" has been pre (Continued on page 3) Republic Dismissed In 5th-Walnut Suit Charges against Republic in the Fifth and Walnut Amusement antitrust suit were dismissed in U. S. District Court here at the weekend by Federal Judge Vincent L. Leibel who ruled against the dismissal pleas of all other defendants, including Warners, Columbia, Loew's, 20th-Fox, Paramount, United Artists, RKO Radio and Universal. Meyer H. Lavenstein was Republic's trial counsel. Monroe E. Stein, plaintiff's attor (Continued on page 3) $7,311,000 6-Month WB Net; '47 Period Netted $14,013,000 Warner Brothers reports a net profit of $7,311,000 for the six months ending February 28, after provision of $5,200,000 for Federal taxes. Net profit for the six months ending March 1, 1947 totaled $14,013,000, after provision of $8,400,000 for Federal taxes. The net profit for the 1948 six months is equivalent to $1.00 per share on 7,295,000 shares of common stock outstanding. Net for the corresponding period last year was equivalent to $1.89 per share. Film rentals, theatre admissions, sales, etc., after eliminating inter-company transactions, for the six months ending February 28, amounted to $75,852,000, compared with $85,053,000 for the corresponding period in 1947. Current and working assets on February 28 were $69,140,216, including cash of $14,191,229, against current liabilities of $29,659,289. Total assets were $181,337,396. Cohen Named E-L Division Manager Milton E. Cohen has been named Eastern division sales manager for Eagle-Lion Films, effective immediately by William J. Heineman, distribution vice-president. He will supervise ten branches. A veteran of many years as a film (Continued on page 3) ECA in a Quandary Over Media Funds Washington, June 13. — Officials of the Economic Cooperation Administration are still trying to determine how they will administer the convertibility guaranty provided films, books and other information media in the European Recovery Program, a top ECA official said. He declared that workingout policy on the information fund is one of the toughest problems of the ERP program, and it might be several weeks or longer after the funds are voted by Congress before the ECA is ready to tell publishers and film producers to "come and get it." Louisiana Owners Fight 3 Tax Bills Washington, June 13. — Louisiana exhibitors are confident of blocking three theatre tax bills now pending in the state Louisiana legislature, according to Jack Bryson, legislative representative of the Motion Picture Association of America. The bills are a two per cent sales tax, a 10 per cent admission tax. and a special theatre license tax which graduates the license fee in proportion to a theatre's rentals. Louisiana and Massachusetts are the only two state legislatures still in session; the latter is slated to adjourn in a few days. Industry Will Stand Tat' on | UK Agreement Await Developments As Pact Is Now In Effect Indications following Friday's meeting of company heads and foreign managers at Motion Picture Association offices here were that the American industry will stand pat on the language of the film agreement as negotiated in London last March by Eric Johnston and James Mulvey. Possible repudiations of the the agreement which have been suggested in London in at least six instances apparently will be ignored for the present pending completion of the present work on clarification of the agreement, it was indicated. However; should the suggested evasions of the pact be translated into official action in Britain in carrying out the agreement, which is effective as of today, a firm stand will be taken (Continued on page 2) it 99 A Foreign Affair [ Paramount ] — Slick, Sleek and Smart PRODUCER Charles Brackett and director Billy Wilder combine their talents on behalf of a romantic comedy with a post-Berlin background. Their talents shine all the way, suffusing the script which they wrote with Richard Breen and the .performances which they drew with brightness and intelligence without ignoring the demands of the crass commercial. In several of its approaches the story of an inhibited Congresswoman from Iowa investigating the morale of United States troops in the American zone in Germany conveys a familiar ring, although its locale is new. She is Jean Arthur, burying herself in the manifold duties of a legislator but re-aroused emotionally on contact with John Lund, Army captain carrying on with Marlene Dietrich, ex-mistress of a Gestapo bigwig and prepared to resume the Hitler line. Actually, Lund starts Miss Arthur's emotional dynamo humming in an effort to keep her off Miss Dietrich's recorded trail. Unplanned or otherwise, he begins to fall for the icebound solon from Iowa — his own state, too — as he falls out of the glamour sphere which Miss Dietrich has woven around him. The situation turns complicated when Miss Arthur learns of l'affaire Dietrich-Lund from Marlene's own lips and further so (Continued on page 3) Rank's G-B-Odeon Pool Seen Set Up London, June 13. — Calling off a trade press conference here on Monday by John Davis, top aide to J. Arthur Rank, to elucidate on the formation and operation of Rank's new Circuit Management Association, Ltd., would indicate that the long-contemplated pooling of the G-B and Odeon circuits has been completed. There are some 555 theatres in the two groups. Approval of the Kinemato(Continued on page 2) UJA Unit To Honor Mayer Here June 29 Louis B. Mayer will be honor guest at a dinner at the Hotel Astor here on June 29, to be given by the amusement industry division of the United Jewish Appeal. Barney Balaban, S. H. Fabian and Emil Friedlander are chairmen of the affair. Louis Nizer will be toastmaster, David Weinstock, representing the exhibitors committee, is in charge of reservations. ■