Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1948)

MOTION PICWRf lAILY Accurate Concise and Impartial 64. NO. 2 NEW YORK, U.S.A., FRIDAY, JULY 2, 1948 TEN CENTS Chance of New U.K. Embargo Seems Slight MPEA Control Reported Approved for Britain With apparently all possibilities of a new embargo on American film shipments to Britain ruled out by divergent views and interests of individual companies, the Motion Picture Export Association at a meeting here yesterday reportedly agreed upon the extension of its operations to Britain to achieve controlled film service to that country. Characteristically, the MPEA would not confirm or deny the report, but a statement which it issued following the meeting lent credence to the report. In referring to the appointment of F. W. Allport as an American industry representative on the Control Committee to administer the agreement in settlement of the British film tax, the MPEA statement described Allport as "the London representative of 'the MPEA companies in London." The MPEA, heretofore, has not op(Continued on page 12) Allport, Chris on Anglo-US Film Unit Fayette W. Allport, London representative of the Motion Picture Export Association, and T. Chris, London manager of the Bank of London, have been appointed as the American film industry's representatives on the Control Committee provided for in the Anglo-American film agreement, it was announced yesterday. John McCarthy, who had been serving temporarily on the Control Committee, is to leave London today for the MPEA home office in New York. Chris will leave here for London July 7. Arthur Abeles Seen Succeeding Milder London, July 1. — Resignation of Max Milder as managing director for Warner Brothers in Britain is expected next week, it is understood, prompted by ill health, with Arthur Abeles, Jr., presently Milder's executive assistant, expected to succeed him. C. J. Latta, who was transferred (.Continued on page 12) Video Will Not Hurt Theatres: Chas. Skouras Washington, July 1. — Television has not proved harmful to theatre box-offices, probably will not cause any noticeable loss of revenue, and may even be of ultimate benefit to the motion picture industry, said Charles P. Skouras, testifying as president of 20th Century-Fox of California at Federal Communication Commission hearings on the five applications pending for the two available San Francisco video channels. The head of 20th-Fox's National Theatres gave diametrically opposed views to those expressed by Paramount vicepresident Paul Raibourn when he appeared last week. Raibourn (Continued mi page 11) Peyser to Finalize Video Film Contract Seymour Peyser, of the New York law firm of Phillips, Nizer, Benjamin and Krim, has been retained as counsel for the new National Television Film Council, it was announced here yesterday by Melvin L. Gold, NTFC chairman. Selection of Peyser was approved at a meeting yesterday of sub-committee chairmen Robert Paskow, television committee ; Myron Mills, distribution ; Sally Perle, press (Continued on page 11) 'U's 6-Month Net Drops to $232,866 Universal Pictures' consolidated net profit for the 26 weeks ended May 1, aggregated $232,866 after all charges, including Federal taxes. This compares with $2,092,418 for the corresponding period of the preceding fiscal year. Court Injunction Pointless: Griffith Oklahoma City, July 1. — Asserting that Griffith Amusement will be responsible for any actions taken in violation of the U. S. Supreme Court ruling, Griffith attorneys argued before Federal Judge Edgar S. Vought today that issuance of an order restraining the company from buying or selling theatres without court permission was purposeless at this time. Following today's hour-long session in connection with Assistant U. S. Attorney Robert Wright's request for an injunction against Griffith, the judge set September 20 for hearing of the request. The long recess is due to summer and the judge's vacation. Griffith attorney C. B. Cochrane told the court that the injunction sought by the Government would "work extreme hardship on the company and accomplish nothing." On May 3 the Supreme Court, reversing a "not guilt-y" verdict by Vought, found Griffith circuit and three affiliates guilty of conspiracy to (Continued on page 11) Strike At Mexican Studios Ends Quickly in Truce Pathe Cinema May Produce in U. S. Jacques Chabrier, president of Pathe Cinema of the U. S., will fly to Paris tomorrow to confer with the principals of the French parent company on plans for entering production and distribution in this country. The company is already in exhibition here, building the first key city "showcase", to be called the Paris, opening in New York in the fall. Mexico City, July 1. — A strike called today by the National Cinematographic Industry Workers Union ended almost immediately in a truce to enable union leaders and operators of the struck studios to confer on the issues in dispute. The National Cinematographic Commission was instrumental in arranging the truce. Struck studios were Churubusco, in which RKO has a half interest ; Azteca, Clasa and Tepeyac. Production was brought to a virtual standstill when last minute efforts of the Federal Board of Conciliation failed to avert the stoppage. Countering the union's insistence upon wage increases ranging from 60 to 150 per cent, the studio operators (Continued on page 12) Gov't in Move For Theatre Divorce Data Interrogatories on Joint Ownerships Go to "Big 5" First concrete move in its effort to obtain vital information on the theatre interests of the five major defendants in the Paramount antitrust case was taken by the Government under the divestiture provisions of the U. S. Supreme Court decision yesterday when counsel for the companies here were served with, interrogatories bearing on the joint ownership of theatre properties. Here is some of the data sought by the Department of Justice in its attempt to test the legality of each joint theatre interest. 1. — Date of incorporation, state in which incorporated and location of principal office of each joint ownership. 2. — Name and address of each shareholder, with amount and class of (Continued on page 11) NLRB Starts Probe At UA Here Today Entry yesterday of a third disputant in the tilt over labor jurisdiction at United Artists' home office resulted in charges by AFL's IATSE Motion Picture Home Office Employes Local No. H-63 that CIO's Screen Office and Professional Employes Guild has established a "front" through which it seeks to circumvent H-63 in the latter's bid for a National Labor Re (Continued on page 2) Rathvon Runs Studio Pending Board Meet Hollywood, July 1. — RKO president N. Peter Rathvon has assumed full command of the RKO studio following the resignation of Dore Schary as production head yesterday. Schary left the lot immediately. No further changes of personnel are anticipated pending next week's meeting of the (Continued on page 11) No Paper Monday Motion Picture Daily will not be published on Monday, a legal holiday in observance of Independence Day on Sunday.