Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1948)

4 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, August 27, 1948 Review "For the Love of Mary" {Universal-International) WAIT till the patrons get a look at the farcical complications official Washington is thrown into by the romantic involvements of Deanna Durbin. As a switchboard operator in the White House, she has everyone from the President and Supreme Court Justices — down to the more humble folks concerned with her emotional life. The affair turns out to be a merry romp, the kind that customers generally find easy to take. The plot is one that frequently gives plausibility a strenuous tug, but the mood of mischievousness becomes so contagious that one is disinclined to judge its shortcomings. The vehicle is almost exclusively Miss Durbin's, and when not involved in the entanglements caused by her three suitors, and the well-meaning interference of the President, she finds time for an impressive number of songs. Some of them are "Moonlight Bay," 'Til Take You Home Again, Kathleen," "On the Wings of Song," and a score from "The Barber of Seville." Among those who vie for Miss Durbin's hand in the Oscar Brodney screenplay are Jeffrey Lynn, a lawyer; Edmond O'Brien, a naval aide to the White House; and Don Taylor, owner of a little Pacific island, on which the Navy,, through some error, has built a base. This turns out to be the trump card by which Taylor disposes of the romantic competition. When the Navy negotiates for the purchase of the island, Taylor agrees to sell it on condition that the lawyer is made a judge far, far away, and the lieutenant is given sea duty. As an off-screen character, the President contributes a lot of bungling mirth, but in an election year, this may not seem so hilarious to some party leaders. Robert Arthur produced; Frederick De Cordova directed. Running time, 90 minutes. General audience classification. Set for September release. Mandel Herbstman Johnston -Rank {Continued from page 1) Wednesday or, more likely, on his return here before departing for America Sept. 25. Today's talk between the two was described as friendly but almost brutally frank. The gist of the message Johnston gave to Rank was : Cooperation or warfare. 'Full Catalogue of Affronts' Johnston presented a full catalogue of occasions of affronts to the American industry, including the ad valorem film tax, the 45 per cent quota law, the uncalled for rebuff in the exclusion of Americans from the Films Council, the continued "smear" attacks on American pictures in the newspapers and elsewhere here and a principal grievance, Rank's suggested intention of running choice American pictures as second features in his theatres. Laying his cards on the table, Johnston told Rank he would be the first to suffer if he endeavors to meet the quota with a series of cheaplymade "quickies." Bad pictures could set back the whole British industry, Rank was reminded. Sees Both Sides Hurt In a fight between the two industries both sides would be hurt, but possibly Rank wouW be hurt more, Johnston said. . Rank was obviously impressed by the interchange and expressed the wish to discuss Johnston's indictments with associates before meeting with Johnston again. Most Americans here feel that under no circumstances should they agree to the playing of their choicer product as second features. They demand the right, to sell complete American programs, both first and second features. Johnston also met again today with American company managers here for a further discussion of ways and means of protecting American interests. The discussions are likely to be continued in view of the continuing divergence of views and interests in the American camp, which was again apparent after Johnston had left today's meeting. Will Meet Fuller Monday The views of independent British exhibitors also will be sought by •Johnston, probably on Monday, when he hopes to meet with W. R. Fuller, general secretary of Cinematograph Exhibitors Association, and others. Several Americans here advocate immediate withdrawal from Rank's circuits in the event he refuses to agree to more satisfactory film playing terms. Johnston visited Lady Astor at her country home late today. His itinerary on leaving here now includes Paris, Berlin, Rome, Madrid and Belgrade, Yugoslavia. He still hopes to get a visa to visit Russia, but this appears unlikely. He plans to contact Marshal Tito while in Belgrade. Paramount Profit {Continued from page 1) table under existing restrictions on remittances. Profit reported for the second quarter of this year was $5,810,000, after all charges, including taxes. The amount includes $1,466,000 representing Paramount's direct and indirect net interest as a stockholder in the combined undistributed earnings for the quarter of partially-owned nonconsolidated subsidiaries. Profit for the corresponding quarter of last year was estimated at $7,885,000, including $1,489,000 share of undistributed earnings of subsidiaries. Profit for this year's quarter was equal to 84 cents a share of' common, compared with $1.11 per share for the corresponding quarter of 1947. Profit for the, first half of this year represents $1.96 per share, as against $2.45 per share for the first six months of last year. The company's board yesterday declared the regular quarterly dividend of 50 'cents per share on the common stock, payable Sept. 24 to stockholders of record Sept. 7. PUZZLE-BANK A game to be played by theater audiences Enterprise House, Inc., 198 Broadway New York City DIgby 9-1278 British Lion Sets 26 Films Through '49 London, Aug. 26. — Sir Arthur Jarratt, managing director of British Lion, distribution affiliate of Sir Alexander Korda, has announced that the company plans to release 26 features between now and the end of 1949. The number is three times greater than the company delivered last year. W. B. Theatre (Continued from page 1) Stanley Theatre in Baltimore as well as Virginia district theatres. Harry E. Lohmeyer and Nat Glassner continue as managers, respectively, of the Washington neighborhood houses and Maryland district theatres. E-K Promotes Barr To Managerial Post Rochester, N. Y., Aug. 26. — Eastman Kodak has advanced William E. Barr to assistant general manager of its sensitized goods sales division. He will continue to function as manager of the company's industrial photographic sales division. ITOA To Appeal {Continued from page 1) counsel, former Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson, petition Judge Leibell for a modification of some of the more sweeping phraseology in the decision. In the 13-page statement he released yesterday, Weisman scored Theatre Owners of America's advice to exhibitors to continue payments to Ascap. Weisman countered with this : "My advice to every exhibit; 'Don't pay Ascap for music pei ing rights. If you must part with your good money, give it to a poor relative or give it to a worthy charity'." Weisman said "The effect of the decision is so apparent that virtually all informed exhibitors and exhibitor associations are discontinuing the making of any payments to Ascap." He contends that producers will not have to pay exorbitant prices for the performing rights to copyrighted music "since they will be able to purchase them in an open and free market where competition among copyright owners exists." He added that, in his opinion, the cost of the performing rights borne by the producers could not very well be passed along to exhibitors because the latter already are paying for film "all that the traffic will bear." Herman Levy, general counsel of Theatre Owners of America, made the following comment yesterday on the Weisman statement: "We shall be glad to argue _ with anybody, at any time, the merits of the two existing positions with regard to payments to Ascap for performing rights under current licenses and prior to the entry of a decree by Judge Leibell. "The mud-slinging at personalities by Weisman, however, does not deserve or warrant any response." 'Games' Opens Sept. 1 The print of "The Olympic Games of 1948," to be released by Eagle-Lion, will be received from England on Sept. 1. The film is due to open at the Apollo, Chicago, Sept. 10; Exeter, Boston, Sept. 12 ; Gotham, New York, Sept. 15.' $9,500 for 'Rope' Here Alfred Hitchcock's "Rope" grossed approximately $9,500 in its openingday, yesterday, at the Globe here. This represents top business for the house, despite yesterday's record heat here. THE LATEST WORD ON •Rope is Another Hitchcock-A-Docdle-ooF —WALTER WINCHELL