Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1948)

4 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, June 17, 1948 Para. 25-Year Club Caps Canada Meet Toronto, June 16. — Paramount Service Ltd. annual sales convention closed tonight with the staging of the yearly banquet of Canadian Paramount's 25-year Club, with Mabel May as the sole initiate. Theatre and distributors executives were among the guests at the affair for which Gordon Lightstone, Canadian general manager, was master of ceremonies. Others present were managers, bookers and salesmen of the six branches from the Atlantic to the Pacific as well as officials from the Toronto office. Two New Canadian Producing Firms Toronto, June 16. — Two new independent companies, Canam Films and Carillon Pictures, plan to produce here. R. Montgomery is reportedly interested in Canam, while officers of Carillon include Mel Turner, president ; David J. Ongley, vice-president, and George H. Beeston, secretary-treasurer ; the latter is a former director of Odeon of Canada. Hancock to Build Two Boston, June 16. — The John Hancock Life Insurance Co. will build a theatre on its housing development in Boston to seat about 1,000. It will also have a theatre in its new office building to seat 1,600. 500 New Theatres In Spain in 28 Mos. Washington, June 16. — The Spanish Syndical Committee reports that 97 new theatres were opened in Spain in 1946, 263 in 1947, and 148 in the first four months of 1948, according1 to a Department of Commerce study prepared by film consultant Nathan D. Golden. Mono, and Allied (Continued from page 1) gram, all presenting Hollywood stars with Canadian talent in support so far as possible, and with only such technical personnel as is not yet available in Canada recruited from Hollywood. Renaissance is entirely Canadianowned. CISP, organized by executive producers Joseph Than and Fields, long active in Hollywood production, is Canadian. 'Foreign Affair' Premiere Overseas Press Club will sponsor the world premiere of Paramount's "A Foreign Affair" at the Paramount theatre here on June 28, with pr®ceeds of the benefit, derived from the sale of mezzanine tickets for that night, to go to the club's "correspondents' fund." U. K. Exhibitors (Continued from page 1) W. R. Fuller, CEA general secretary, persuaded the meeting to postpone action on a proposal that all CEA members discontinue the bookings of Rank's films until exhibitors reach an agreement with him on his new booking terms. Counselling prudence, Fuller made arrangements for Rank to meet with the CEA general council next month, and delegates reluctantly agreed to postpone action until then. The general council today adopted a resolution which declared the "proposed 45 per cent quota is unworkable owing to an insufficient supply of suitable British films and, if persisted in, will make the Quota Act a dead letter from the outset for a considerable number of exhibitors." Inform Commons of Stand The resolution was telegraphed to all members of the House of Commons preliminary to their debate on the new quota. A succession of irate speeches suggesting that Rank is endeavoring to squeeze out all opposition in "a colossal financial operation" characterized the council session. The tenor of all speeches was that Rank's current output is not worth high percentages. Charles Medcalf, a highly respected exhibitor, declared: "Rank is churning out rotten things ; rotten in every sense." Other speakers claimed Rank is dominated by financial interests only. Leslie Hill of CEA's Devon and Cornwall branch said : "There's not one showman in the top flights of the Rank organization." All speakers expressed resentment over what they see as Rank's assumption, in his public utterances, of dictatorial powers with the manifest intention of crushing all independents by a "financial monstrosity." Suggest Secession from CEA Several speakers urged independent exhibitors secede from CEA and form their own "simon-pure" independent association. Agreement was reached not to pay more than 50 per cent for any Rankpicture and not more than 35 per cent in most instances. Fuller pointed out that exhibitors competing with three or more circuit houses are entitled to apply to the Board of Trade for a reduced quota and advised all exhibitors so situated to apply immediately for relief. The council approved of advising independents not to hesitate to default on the new quota in the event that Rank does not concede better terms. MPAA Board (Continued from page 1) picture, including latest interpretations of the 27 permitted uses of unremittable American earnings. The meeting today will weigh all aspects of the Allport report and if MPAA decides against registering a protest on the quota it is likely some companies will protest individually to the Board of Trade. The meeting may also go into other foreign developments, including the French situation. Some of the urgency has been removed from the French situation, however, by the success of Gerald Mayer, MPAA international division manager, now in Paris, in getting a two-week delay in action in the French Assembly on two new confiscatory film import taxes. Short Subjects "The Fight Game" (March of Time— 20thFox) With professional boxing currently enjoying something of a renaissance of popular enthusiasm, March of Time has what should prove to be a strong business ptuller. Although "The Fk;"*ff Game" makes no attempt to uneal^V undisclosed facts about the $14,000,000 boxing game it does serve up an adequately engrossing examination of the outward manifestations of it, namely, how some fights are "fixed," ring fatalities, the boxer-manager relationship, and fight promoting. It is a fast-action subject. Running time, 19 minutes. "My Name Is Han" (Protestant Film Commission) "My Name Is Han," second documentary to be produced by the Protestant Film Commission and showing in impressive manner the benefits of the work of Protestant missionaries in China to a Chinese farmer. The film, running 27 minutes, will have simultaneous openings in 125 American and Canadian cities June 15. It is being released through Religious Film Association in both 35mm. and 16mm. Paul F. Heard was executive producer. The picture, which has English narration spoken by a Chinese, tells of a Chinese farmer and his family returning to their ravaged home and field. Legion of Decency Condemns 3 Films Distinguished Films' "Passionelle" (French), Oxford Film' "Torment" (Swedish), and Wilshire Productions' "Street Corner" have been placed in Class C by the National Legion of Decency. Other films newly classified are: "Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin,' " Universal-International, and "Trail to Laredo," Columbia, both in Class A-I ; "Portrait of Innocence" (French), Siritzky International, and "The Velvet Touch," RKO Radio, in A-II, and "Bad Sister," J. Arthur Rank — Universal-International, and "Mine Own Executioner," 20th Century-Fox, in Class B. Ice Shows for Roxy The Roxy Theatre will open an $80,000 ice stage with the change of program starting next Wednesday, A. J. Balaban, executive director, announces. Enchanting Lois (MICKEY) Butler, screen s newest sensation, sings gloriously in Eagle Lion's heartwarming "MICKEY," in Cinecolor. More than 100 Micl west Jay -and -dates follow June 22nd World Premiere! HEARING IS BELIEVING! We'll send you, absolutely FREE, Lois Butler's latest Capitol recording, "Dreams in My Heart." Write, wire or phone Exploitation Dept., Eagle Lion Films, 165 W. 46th St., New York 19, N.Y.