Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1948)

Wednesday, August 18, 1948 Motion Picture Daily 3 Fighting 18% Levy On Turkish Income Washington, Aug. 17— Distributors in Turkey are trying to get the ll government to remove a special 18 ] per cent tax on film royalties, accord' ing to a Commerce Department report by film chief Nathan D. Golden. Golden says that motion pictures are 1 ^^Mtct t0 an 18 per cent "transaction ^ 7" along with all the regular cus"torns and other levies. Up to March 3, 1948, the 18 per cent tax was levied only on the actual cost of the film , being imported, but on that date, the ( i government ruled that the tax should apply to the royalties on the film as well. Importers have objected to this ruling, and are trying to get the courts to rule to the contrary. Rumors are current that the dollar shortage may cause import licensing in the near future, the report declares, but "to date, no difficulty has been encountered in obtaining dollars to pay for imported films." French Agreement (Continued from page 1) to the French government." This was regarded in trade quarters here as merely a formality. Johnston said : "We were mainly interested in remitting our past earnings and continuing the flow of our films into France in the future." Johnston and James Mulvey, representing the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers, will leave for London on Friday, and after a stay in that country Johnston will visit other parts of Europe on industry matters. Mulvey will return to New York from London. Johnston will be accompanied by Joyce O'Hara, his assistant. U. K. Quota (Continued from page 1) it is understood, will seek to have relaxed those provisions under which British exhibitors are given relief. The MPEA here merely announced that the two executives who negotiated the British dollar-exchange agreement last March will "meet with London representatives of American companies to consider the situation created by the British film quota." Strong feeling here is that the quota violates the spirit and intent of that agreement. While the U. S. State Department has expressed its concern, it has yet to take formal action beyond instructing its Embassy in London to investigate, so far as is known. Newman Back to Canada Ottawa, Aug. 17. — A. H. Newman, Canadian government central liaison for all American film production in Canada, has returned to Ottawa from a series of meetings with film interests in the U. S., including Hollywood. He will report directly to the Minister of Trade and Commerce, C. D. Howe. Warner, Jr., in Britain London, Aug. 17. — Jack Warner, Jr. has arrived here from the U. S. to investigate a plan for Warner Brothers to produce a series of moderatepriced features. He is scheduled to act as liaison between the company and a British producer, as yet unselected. Greek Govt. Decree (Continued from page 1) ceed $50 for black-and-white news films and $100 for color news films. For approved features there is to be allowed an exchange equalling the value of the prints, transportation charges and the value of the accompanying advertising material. Profits accruing to the imported features and shorts, limited to 60 per cent of the total rights of exploitation, are to be deposited in the Bank of Greece as unremittable earnings. The new decrease will remain in force until June 30, 1949. Some $500,000 has been set aside for the import of American pictures under the decree. The Ministry will later issue another decree applying to the importation of films from other countries. About 60 Italian-made pictures were contracted for here recently, and they are expected to arrive in Athens within the next few days. British 'Week End' at Park Theatre Here "Quiet Week End," produced in England by Associated British-Pathe in 1946 and distributed now in the U. S. by Distinguished Films, will have its American premiere at the Park Avenue Theatre here, tomorrow. Reviewing the film from London in the May 24, 1946, issue of Motion Picture Daily, Peter Burnup, London editor, said in part : "Despite the absence of star names, discriminating showmen should make rich play with this piece of diverting comedy nonsense, as should their American counterparts." The cast includes Derek Farr, Marjorie Fielding, Barbara White and Frank Cellier. Expect Resignations In Rank Circuit Posts London, Aug. 17. — Several executive resignations are due to follow the formation of J. Arthur Rank's Circuit Management Association to control Odeon and Gaumont-British. Already, Arthur Brown is slated to leave the booking managership of G-B at the end of September with Richard Hauler, Odeon booking manager currently controlling bookings of both circuits. Meanwhile, William Thornton, Odeon manager, has been appointed controller of all of Rank's London West End theatres. Selznick Signs Clouzot Henri-Georges Clouzot, director of the French film "Jenny Lamour" who is now completing "Manon" in Joinville, France, has been signed by David O. Selznick to direct at least one film in Hollywood, it is announced here by Vog Film Co., principal distributor of Clouzot's pictures in this country. New Irish Film Here "My Hands Are Clay," a new Irish feature, is to be released here by Hoffberg Productions through arrangements within Dublin Films, Ltd., producer of the picture. Desmond Leslie, Irish novelist, is chairman of Dublin. 'Mermaid' Air Promotion More than 450 radio stations in the U. S. have requested copies of the special 13-minute recording made by Universal-International featuring Jack Pearl as a special promotion feature for "Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid," U-I reports. Operators Close Operator's Theatre Memphis, Aug. 17. — The De Soto Theatre here closed last night after 22 days of picketing by the local operators union. Walter L. Sawner, who bought the theatre and opened it July 24, is a licensed operator and ran the projection machines himself, asserting he could not afford to employ an operator. Sawner said he will attempt to get an injunction to stop the picketing. TA' to Fight (Continued from page 1) so as to compete with non-union operators. He touched upon exhibitor resistance to unionism, which he attributes to a box-office drop. Walsh also reported an agreement with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad for train film operation. He advises extended activities to include summer stock, repertory companies and alleged non-profit enterprises. Walsh called for a Social Security increase, reduction of retirement age to 60 and study of a pension plan. His report shows the addition since the last convention of 29 locals making a total of 940. Because of the Taft-Hartley Act, he says, the League for Political Education must be extended, adding "the time has come when we must enter politics." Walsh announced the appointment of the following committee chairmen : Resolutions, Harland Holmden ; president's report, William B. Covert ; special committee, Floyd M. Billingsley ; finance, Michael Kennedy ; grievance, James J. Brennan. SAG Vote (Continued from page 1) in pictures is entitled to and must join the SAG within 30 days after the first day's work. Referendum was' required under the Taft-Hartley Law. Screen Extras Guild is preparing for a similar referendum, with a similar result anticipated. K.C. Censor Retiring Kansas City, Aug. 17. — Mrs. Eleanore C. Walton, Kansas City censor since 1939 after joining as assistant film censor in 1933, will retire on Feb. 1, 1949, she has announced. Prior to the censorship post, Mrs. Walton was active in the Federation of Women's Clubs, was vice-president of motion pictures in that organization and chairman of the motion picture committee of the Women's City Club of Kansas City. Americanism Short "America the Beautiful," described as "a restatement of faith in the future of this country," is now available for distribution by Teaching Film Custodians, affiliate of the Motion Picture Association of America. The film, a two-reeler in Technicolor, was produced as a public service by Warner Brothers for the Treasury Department. UA to Screen 'Pitfall' United Artists will be host today to a group of jurists and sociologists at a special screening of "Pitfall," due to open tomorrow at the Capitol. Guests will include Justices Matthew J. Diserio and I. Montefiore Levy. Skouras-F.&M. Pact (Continued from page 1) now operated by Fanchon and Marco or F. and M. subsidiaries under leases and management contracts which originally expired in 1946, and which have been extended from time to time while Skouras interests have been assembling ownership. The brief period of the last extension, from Aug. 3 to Sept. 7, lends color to the report that a permanent management agreement has been reached. Meanwhile, Charles P. Skouras and George Skouras have made an official tender for all outstanding stock and bond issues in the Ambassador Building Corp. and Missouri Theatre Building Corp. which dominate the setup, and of which Charles Skouras and Clarence Turley secured control last year. Voting trustees are said to have agreed to a deal which can only be stopped by written dissent of one-third of the stockholders and is expected to be consummated in October, giving the Skouras brothers all of 'the two companies. Stockholders have until Sept. 10 to approve or reject the offer. Prudential Dispute (Continued from page 1) Canaan clearances, while RKO and WB consented to end Stamford and New Canaan clearances. Before the settlement was reached Stamford enjoyed a clearance of 30 days over Darien and 14 over New Canaan. New Canaan had 14 days over Darien and South Norwalk 14 days over New Canaan and Darien. It was also stipulated that when a production runs more than seven days there shall be no clearance. The charges that were made against the five companies are the basis of an anti-trust action filed by Prudential in U. S. District Court here against Paramount, United Artists, Universal, Columbia, Monogram, EagleLion, and New England Theatres, a Paramount affiliate. Third MPAA Ascap Meeting Is Planned A third meeting was decided upon here yesterday by the Motion Picture Association of America's copyright committee to discuss the Federal Court's opinion holding Ascap guilty of violating the anti-trust statutes. The meeting will take place in about a week. The committee met for the second time yesterday at the MPAA offices here to consider Judge Vincent L. Leibell's decision in the case. Ascap, ITOA (Continued from page 1) with Ascap counsel. It is understood that Ascap's draft has not been prepared. Should both sides be unable to reach an agreement on a common decree, each may submit one of its own to the court for consideration. There is no specific date for the presentation of a degree to Judge Leibell for his approval. 'Polio' Bars Youngsters Louisville, Aug. 17. — Mayor Arthur C. Jones of Frankfort, Ky., says "there's going to be some padlocking" if theatres do not strictly enforce the "polio" ban against children. An order against those under 18 attending public gatherings was issued by the mayor several weeks ago,