Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1948)

Tuesday, July 13, 1948 Motion Picture Daily 5 U.S.FilmsEncounter E.IndiesCompetition Washington, July 12. — The Commerce Department discounts reports that the Netherlands East Indies may :soon require regular exhibition of European films in all theatres. In a report issue by film chief Nathan D. Golden, the department says jtlgjjjkno official action has been taken f£-^it appears likely that the matter will be held in abeyance in view of I the strong position of U. S. distributors in the Netherlands Indies. The report does note increasing competition for U. S. films, chiefly from the British, but also from French, Chinese, Egyptian, Indian, Swiss and native offerings. Only 39 per cent of the features reviewed during the last six months of 1947 were American, compared with 48 per cent in the first six months. British films now account for 30 per cent of the total, the report states. Cites Italian Films' Advances In Europe Italian-made pictures are receiving ever-increasing acceptance in all parts of Western Europe and already are offering strong competition for films made elsewhere in Europe, reports New York film attorney S. R. Kunkis who has returned here from a 10week survey of production, distribution and exhibition in England, France, Italy, Denmark and Sweden. Kunkis said French and English films' particularly trail Italian pictures in popularity in many European countries, whereas U. S. films seem able to hold their own against all competitors. Film Rights Acquires 10 New Foreign Films Ten new French, Italian and Swedish films will be distributed in the U. S. by Film Rights International and subsidiaries in 1948-49, it has been announced here by Irvin Shapiro, general manager. The films are: "Symphonie Pastorale," "Gates of the Night," "Rebirth," "The Good Life," "Macadam," "Les Miserables," "The Eternal City," "Naked Paris," "The House of the Hanged Man" and "Anna Lans." In addition, the company will also reissue "Kiss of Fire" and "The Human Beast." Bert Reisman to RKO Post in So. Africa Bert Reisman has been promoted from manager of the RKO Radio office in Venezuela to company representative in the Union of South Africa with headquarters in Johannesburg. He succeeds Louis Lioni, who will take charge of RKO Radio office in Holland, with headquarters in Amsterdam. Herb E. Fletcher will succeed Reisman in Venezuela. He formerly was a member of the Warner foreign department. New Exhibitor Service LaskerSchwartz, buying and booking office for foreign films, has inaugurated a new service providing subscriber exhibitors with advertising and promotional data on foreign productions. Nasser Embracing New Trailer Idea Hollywood, July 12. — James Nasser says he has a new trailer idea in which the public attending a series of "sneak" previews on "An Innocent Affair" will be asked their off-the-cuff reactions before camera setups in theatre lobbies here, in San Jose, Pomona and Fresno. While he does not say positively, he indicates the footage will comprise the final trailer on his film. ERP Program (Continued from page 1) the channel through which negotiations are being or will be conducted" to obtain such approval. 3. — ECA will accept Congressional guidance and make the guaranty — as far as information media are concerned— apply to the convertibility of foreign currencies earned by the sale or exhibition of films only "to the extent of the dollar cost of production wholly attributable to these specific products." Cover Print Cost, Shipping If a film is distributed in the U. S. and then submitted for distribution abroad under the guaranty provision, convertibility will be guaranteed only for the cost of the actual prints sent overseas, plus the cost of getting them there and showing them. This was the language which the conference committee on the original bill wrote into its conference report, and the ECA statement yesterday said that applications for guarantees from producers and distributors of informational media will "be considered by the administrator in the light of this clearly expressed Congressional intention." ERP Funds Cut by $5,000,000 The original ERP legislation authorized $15,000,000 for guaranteeing investments in enterprises producing or distributing informational media during the first year of the program, from April 3, 1948. The appropriations committees, however, only made $10^000,000 available. The film industry had indicated it hoped to get over $4,000,000 from this program. ECA did not make known how the $10,000,000 would be broken down among film firms, book publishers, newspapers and magazines. The program will become effective tomorrow. ECA said recipients of guaranties would pay annually in advance a fee of one per cent of the amount of the guaranty unless waived by the ECA administrator. Brazil Order (Continued from page 1) instructed to fix prices in their districts on the basis of "points" of credit established for theatre facilities such as seating, quality of sound and projection, exit conveniences. In this way the houses would be classified in five categories of admission. Were the regulations to become operative, the revision of all distribution contracts closed after January 1, 1947, would be required, with flat and I percentage rentals affected equally. 20th-Fox, UP (Continued from page 1) film library is sent to all stations subscribing to the service. The service will provide daily coverage, according to Leroy Keller, UP general sales manager. Participating in the negotiations, in addition to Skouras and Baillie were Peter Levathes, 20th-Fox director of television, Keller, Irving B. Kahn of 20th-Fox's television department and Harry Mclntyre and Joseph Fawcett, attorneys for 20th-Fox and UP respectively. Irving B. Kahn Promoted to 20th-Fox Television Post Irving B. Kahn, 20th Century-Fox radio manager, has been promoted to an executive position in the company's television department it was announced yesterday by Spyros P. Skouras, president. Kahn will work on television programming. A successor to Kahn as radio manager will be named shortly. N.Y. Para. Televises (Continued from page 1) TV, operated by the Philadelphia Inquirer. Under the arrangement, the Paramount withheld advertising of the show until six P.M. yesterday, about four hours before fight time. Prior to the fight cast, the theatre showed scenes of Senator Barkley's speech at the Democratic convention. The Broadway house has the rights to the convention telecast. Loew Profit (Continued from page 1) totaled $13,701,312, against $24,166,052 in 1947. Reserve for contingencies was listed at $1,600,000, compared with $2,500,000 for 1947, and reserve for depreciation this year was put at $3,419,404, against $3,020,638. The 1948 40-week net before taxes was $8,681,908, against $18,645,414 for 1947. Lippert, Redwood (Continued from page 1) Peterson, Harry Langman, Matt Freed. Plans of Screen Guild Productions to make a series of outdoor films in the Rogue River Valley of Oregon were disclosed by Lippert at the meeting. The first, to go into work in early August, will be "The Last Wild Horses." Atlas Corp. (Continued from page 1) bought 100 shares, to bring his total holdings to 2,700, while 20th CenturyFox's Murray Silverstone gave 200 shares to his wife, dropping his personal holdings to 1,100 shares, plus options for 1,200 more.' Daniel M. Sheaffer of Universal sold 400 shares in two transactions, leaving him with 12,807. Jack L. Warner gave 3,000 shares of Warner $5 common to the United Jewish Welfare in three separate gifts. He now holds 420,000 shares of common, and his trust accounts hold 21,500 more. Albert W. Lind bought 200 shares of . Associated Motion Picture Industries capital stock, to increase his holdings to 400 shares, while L. Boyd Hatch acquired warrants for 1,500 shares of Atlas common. He now holds 4,840 shares and warrants for 26,031. Exhibitors to Attend Equipment Meeting Chicago, July 12. — Theatre owners, purchasing agents, theatre supply dealers and equipment manufacturers will assemble at the Jefferson Hotel in St. Louis, on September 27-30 for a meeting and equipment show. Theatre owners will have an all-day session on September 27, including a luncheon, banquet and visit to the exhibits of the trade show of the Theatre Equipment and Supply Manufacturers Association. It is understood that Ted Gamble will address this group. The manufacturers association and the Theatre Supply Dealers Association will convene on September 27-30. There will be a get-together luncheon on September 28, a special party and luncheon for ladies accompanying the delegates on September 29, and cocktail party and banquet September 29. The equipment show will be a display for the conventional type theatre as well as theatre television, drive-in theatre equipment and beverage dispensing equipment. Now They're 2-Reelers Hollywood, July 12. — Western location footage in 16mm., collected over the_ past seven years, has been edited into three two-reelers by Harry Sherman and sold to Edwin Stovall, representing Calcamera, Ltd., of London. The two-reelers have had sound and narration added and will be exhibited in the British Empire as scenics. Fabian in UJA Talk Si Fabian will address Loew executives at the home office at noon tomorrow in his capacity as Greater New York amusement division chairman of the United Jewish Appeal. Reade Meeting Today Monthly meeting of district and city managers of the Walter Reade Theatres will take place today at Reade's Monte Carlo Beach Club, at Asbury Park, N. J. Shapiro's Father-in-Law Funeral services were held here last Friday for Harry Gemson, 67, fatherin-law of Robert K. Shapiro, manager of the New York Paramount Theatre. CBS Promotes Flynn William J. Flynn has been promoted from assistant comptroller to assistant treasurer of Columbia Broadcasting. ■ ■■■■■ I