Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1948)

mrsday, November 4, 1948 MOTION PICTURE DAILY pekane Censors Ban Hope'; Seattle Test Spokane, Nov. 3. — The local cenr board has banned the showing of tope," Warner Brothers, prior to its «ning here this week. City Commissioner William P. ayne, board chairman said that the cture's "plot, story and action defitely violate standards established." he picture would be in violation of ty ordinances if shown publicly here. A court test is scheduled in Seattle, llov.J^a notice by Bernard Reiter, airw^^ °f the board, to Hamrick vergreen Theatres that the picture lould have no further showings. Sew AAA Award in Ohio Clearance Tilt The Appeal Board of the American Arbitration Association has handed rown a corrected decision in the case Wolving the Vogue Theatre at Wyiming, Ohio, and Loew's, the AAA iffice reported here yesterday. Under the amended award, maximum clearance which may be granted \o the Emery Theatre in Reading, O., 4ver the Vogue, shall be seven days "ifter the Emery's availability. Elliott and McGowan form Production U nit Hollywood, Nov. 3. — William (Wild (Bill) Elliott has established _ ElliottjMcGowan Productions, Inc., independent producing company, in association jwith the brothers Dorrell and Stuart (McGowan, writers, and Will J. O'Sullivan, to release through Republic. Their pictures will be in addition to Elliott's present commitments to that studio. Music Publishers Form Service Unit A credit information service has been inaugurated by the Music Publishers' Association to provide an interchange of credit information for its members. Purpose of the service is two-fold : to disseminate credit data to publisher members and to assist those dealers who may find themselves temporarily financially embarrassed. O'Donnell (Continued from page 1) scribed as being backed by Houston money and mentioned Jesse Jones as a reported member of the group. "Under no circumstances would I be interested in this arrangement," O'Donnell declared, adding: "I am happy with my connection with Karl Hoblitzelle and Interstate Theatres." Exhibitors' Decree (Continued from page 1) Leibell is expected to promulgate the court's decree, probably next week. Plaintiffs attached a memorandum to their proposed judgment asking Judge Leibell to specifically rule that performing rights need not be acquired by producers for pictures already made. New Aide for Linet Doris Glass, who has assisted Henry A. (Hank) Linet, Universal-International_ Eastern advertising manager, handling media, has resigned and will marry Leonard Koplin of Philadelphia in New York, on Nov. 28. Miss Glass is being replaced by Norma Seltzer. Review (<The Countess of Monte Cristo ( Westwood Corp.— U niversal-International) AMONG assets of "The Countess of Monte Cristo" are the succession of production numbers which Sonja Henie performs on ice with grace and beauty, and the gleeful charm which Olga San Juan radiates in her companion role. The story which holds together the songs, dances and skating numbers is a standard affair, light, carefree and corny. Set in Oslo, the yarn revolves around two barmaids who take a spin at being film extras, and then go off to live the life abundant by masquerading as countess and maid, with Miss Henie as the former and Miss San Juan the latter. While luxuriating at a lavish winter resort, Miss Henie meets and falls in love with dashing Michael Kirby of the Swiss Guards. At about this time, however, a slick, snooping thief finds out about the girls and insists upon them joining him in ambitious enterprises of theft. A lot of complications follow, most of them in farcical vein, before matters are straightened out. Others in the cast include Arthur Treacher, a hotel manager, and Hugh French, the snooty villain. A Westwood Corp. production, it was produced by John Beck and directed by Frederick De Cordova. William Bowers adapted the screenplay from a story by Walter Reisch. Among the songs are "Count Your Blessings," "Who Believes in Santa Claus?" and "The Friendly Polka." Running time, 77 minutes. General audience classification. For November release. ' Mandel Herbstman Paramount, Inquiry (Continued from page 1) at the Government's proposed order for early divestiture of hundreds of theatres and ultimate divorcement. The New York Federal Court previously had concluded that the Government had failed to establish a case for divestiture and subsequently the U. S. Supreme Court directed a further inquiry into the questions of monopoly and divestiture, Paramount contends. It was disclosed yesterday that in answering Loew's, the Government held that new evidence would only serve to throw added but unnecessary light on the nature of the market control which the majors allegedly now have. Paramount, like Loew's, asserts that the record in the case to date does not support the Government's demand for divorcement or a ban on cross-licensing, and asks that the new decree be framed in the "light of present-day facts." Color by Technicolor Produced by ROBERT L. WELCH • Directed by NORMAN Z. McLEOD Original Screenplay by Edmund Hartmann and Frank Tashlin • Additional Dialogue by Jack Rose For Your PARAMOUNT CHRISTMAS!