Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1948)

8 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, June 29, 1948 'Letter to a Rebel', Industry Sponsored Benefits of capitalism and the primacy of the American Way are described in "Letter to a Rebel," a This Is America subject made by RKO Pathe with the sponsorship of the Motion Picture Association of America. The subject is the second in the series sponsored by the MPAA to illuminate the essential aspects of free enterprise in America. Each of the major companies is expected to develop a subject on a similar theme. As explained at a trade press, screening here by David Palfreyman, MPAA director of theatre services and trade relations, these subjects are intended to "improve the public relations of the industry and show how it can perform a public service." "Letter to a Rebel" employs the dramatic technique of having a small town country editor write a letter to his radical son who has written an article for his college paper using such leftish shibboleths as "mean and crafty capitalists," etc. The father's letter takes up in simple, understandable terms the vital facts of capitalism, and private enterprise, depicting their workings and the benefits which "rebel" sons derive from them, in scenes of every-day life in a typical small city, Monroe, N. Y. Townspeople comprise the cast, for the most part, only three professionals being used in the picture. It is a well-done, effective presentation of a vital facet of the American Way, deserving of anyone's screen. It carries a foreword by Eric Johnston, MPAA president. The subject, running 17 minutes, can be spot-booked by exhibitors separately from the series by arrangements with RKO Radio. It was produced by Jay Bonafield, directed and photographed by Larry O'Reilly and supervised by Phil Reisman, Jr. M.H. Louisiana Withdraws Two Film Tax Bills Washington, June 28. — Two film tax bills introduced in Louisiana's special session have been withdrawn, according to Jack Bryson, Motion Picture Association of America legislative representative. The bills would have taxed film rentals and gross receipts. Still pending is a general sales tax bill. Special sessions in Louisiana and Wyoming are the only legislatures now sitting, with New Jersey scheduled to return on August 30. Massachusetts adjourned June 21. The industry has a clean slate in all state legislatures so far this year, Bryson stated. McDonald is Labor Aide Charles B. McDonald, RKO division manager, has been assigned to assist Leslie Thompson in charge of labor relations for the RKO circuit here, while McDonald's former duties will be absorbed by other New York division managers. McDonald will make his headquarters here. 20th-Fox Preview in DC An audience of officialdom and theatre executives will be on hand tomorrow evening when 20th CenturyFox previews "Street with No Name" at the Statler Hotel in Washington. Spyros P. Skouras, president of 20th Century-Fox, and J. Edgar Hoover, FBI director, will be hosts. Review "Canon City" (Eagle-Lion) SHOWMANSHIP values, dramatic suspense and action, authenticity of story and all-around entertainment qualities rate high in "Canon City," a splendid production of its kind, by Bryan Foy, directed by Crane Wilbur. The brutalities and grimness of prison life and crime are restrained, unlike so many pictures concerning jailbirds. Stressed, instead, is an effective lesson on crime-does-not-pay, one of the best of its type. Exploitation-wise, showmen can turn to the screaming headlines of last December which told how 12 desperate convicts escaped from Colorado State Penitentiary one blizzardy night, and were either all captured or killed within 60 hours by posses led by Warden Roy Best, famed in the West. Its authentic aspects bring in Warden Best himself, many scenes from the "pen's" cellblocks and jailyard and many of the inmates as extra-players. Especially noteworthy is John Alton's photography — he filmed "T-Men" — and the dialogue by director Wilbur. Performances, too, are splendid, particularly those of Jeff Corey and Scott Brady. Running time, 82 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, July 6. Convertibility Bill Is Now Federal Law Washington, June 28. — President Truman today signed the foreign aid appropriations bill, which bears $10,000,000 for the film industry and other information media. The funds are to guarantee the convertibility of costs of sending films, books, newspapers and magazines into Marshall Plan nations during the next year. A similar plan for the Far East may be worked out under funds appropriated for a Far Eastern recovery program. Truman has also signed the oneyear extension of the Reciprocal Trade Agreements pact, but criticized the measure for being only one year, instead of the three years sought, and for giving the Tariff Commission authority to suggest limits on new tariff cuts or increases. See ECA Pacts Fitting Film Industry Needs Washington, June 28. — The Economic Cooperation agreements between the U. S. and each of the Marshall Plan nations — the first two were signed today with Italy and Eire — contain several sections that may come in handy for the film industry. The State Department released today a model pact. One section binds the European country to cooperate in reducing quotas and other restrictive devices. Another promises consultation on to any projects proposed by American firms "with regard to which the American Government may appropriately make guaranties of currency transfer." Still another section stresses the importance of full publicity on the progress of the program, and pledges the European government to aid this dissemination. 'Fric-Frac' Rated (C; Legion Reviews 12 Oxford Films' "Fric-Frac" (French) has been placed in Class C by the Legion of Decency. Classified as A-I are : "Beyond Glory," Paramount ; "Fighting Back," 20th Century-Fox, and "Mickey," Eagle-Lion. Placed in A-II were the following eight: "Canon City," Eagle-Lion; "The Checkered Coat" and "The Street with No Name," 20th-Fox; "I, Jane Doe" and "King of the Gamblers," Republic ; "Jinx Money," Monogram ; "Key Largo," Warners, and "Man-Eater of Kumaon," UniversalInternational. Palestine Has Many Film Plans: Levin Palestine is very motion picture conscious with many plans for the construction of production centers now under consideration, Meyer Levin, who has just made "The Illegals", asserted here yesterday. Levin said that Oved Ben Ami, mayor of Nathanyah, has plans for a film center to cost $4,000,000. As soon as things "quiet down" in Palestine, production should start in earnest, Levin said. "The Illegals," a documentary drama about the underground route from Europe to Palestine, was made at the low cost of $25,000, he said. The development, cutting and other laboratory work was done in Paris, where, Levin said, costs are about onethird less than in Hollywood. The films, paid for by Americans for Haganah, will be distributed here by Mayer-Burstyn. Scully, Bergman to Europe Tomorrow William A. Scully, Universal-International vice-president, and Maurice A. Bergman, Eastern advertising-publicity director, will sail for England aboard the SS. Queen Elisabeth, tomorrow for conferences with officials of the J. Arthur Rank organization. They expect to see some of the Rank productions allocated to U-I for American release, including "Daybreak," "Snowbound," "Good Time Girl," "Dulcimer Street," "The Passionate Friends," "The Blue Lagoon," "Woman Hater" and "Christopher Columbus." UK Quota Report (Continued from page 1) probably go out late today or tomorrow. "It'll just tell him what he already knows from the press reports of Under-Secretary of State Robert A. Lovett's conference, however," this official said. "We'll tell Mr. Johnston that we have told our Embassy to express our concern, and are now awaiting a full report." House of Lords action on the 45 per cent quota order is due today. Approval of the order by Lords is regarded here as a certainty in view of the absence of any strong opposition to it in the House of Commons, which already has approved it. RKO Fight Film A Superb Job Audiences in just about every part of the world are currently viewing the Joe Louis-Joe Walcott fight picture. As produced by RKO Pathe, it makes a superb sport film, glowing in every inch of its footage with professional competence. It offers an interesting study in contrasts with the television accou^ / the bout that was flashed on the lm , ■ 24 foot screen of the Paramount Tneatre here the night of the bout. As successful a job as the television account was, it, in many respects, came out second best to the motion picture account. For one thing, the film was shown in sharper focus and captured better close-ups. The 11th round, in which Louis finally caught up with his fleet-footed opponent and administered his battering assault, is shown in a clearly visible angle, and is then shown again in slow motion. On the television screen, the savage flurry of blows that dropped Walcott were partially obscured by Louis' back. The motion picture account skirts briskly over the less eventful rounds, sparing the non-boxing minded any possible tedium. Produced by Jay Bonafield, the 18minute subject includes a dressing room interview with the victor. It also shows some candid shots of such ringside celebrities as Bob Hope, Jack Benny, Eddie Cantor, Joan Blondell, and others. M.H. Walsh Remains Aloof In Park Ave. Dispute Richard F. Walsh, IATSE international president, declined yesterday to arbitrate the projectionist labor dispute at the Park Avenue Theatre here. Walsh said he has assigned "IA" vice-president James J. Brennan to act as negotiator in the clash between Universal-International, operators of the house, and "IA" local No. 306. Pending resumption of talks, the company and the local have established a "truce," which brought a halt to a projectionists' walkout and threatened counter-action by the company. Prime point of the dispute concerns the number of projectionists to be stationed at the house. Increases for 56 at RKO Home Office Wage increases ranging from $5.50 to $20 have been granted some 56 employes of RKO Radio and RKO Theatre Service Corp. in an award handed down by the American Arbitration Association, it was announced here yesterday by the Screen Publicists Guild. The award follows the same pattern set by Warner, 20th Century-Fox and Eagle-Lion, the latter having been settled without arbitration. Cole Trial for MGM Job Set for Nov. 16 Los Angeles, June 28. — Federal Court Judge Leon Yankwich today set November 16 as the trial date for Lester Cole's suit against M-G-M for restoration of his employment which was terminated following House Committee on Un-American Activities hearings in Washington. At the pretrial hearing, Judge Yankwich ruled that the case will be tried with a jury.