Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1949)

4 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, July 14, 1949 Plan Reorganization Of Mexican Industry Mexico City, July 13. — President Miguel Aleman has established an eight-point program to help the Mexican film industry help itself, following an interview with trade leaders, headed by Andres Serra Rojas, president of the trade's own bank, the Banco Xacional Cinematografico. The program provides : Organization of a special committee of five Mexican intellectuals who will revise all scenarios for Mexican pictures; have a more extensive examination and classification of Mexican films by the National Cinematographic Commission ; all Mexican pictures must have a message; make a thorough study of all economic factors of production ; interchange players and directors between Mexico and various other countries ; effect a definite ending of friction between the two big unions, the National Cinematographic Industry Workers and the Picture Production Workers ; make a complete examination of fiscal phases of all studios of Mexico and adopt some means best to aid them, and, if necessary, dictate measures for reducing studio costs or, if circumstances warrant, close some plants. A bleak story of the situation was told to Ramon Beteta, Secretary of Finance, by Serra Rojas, Alberto Saldana, sub-director of the Nacional Financiera, the government's fiscal agency, and Emilio Azcarraga, important exhibitor and principal stockholder in the Churubusco studio here. They said that the studios are in a depression because while they are equipped to make 200 pictures a year, annual production is now only 80. They warned that the $11,500,000 investment in the studios is in danger because of this situation. They said the studios must make at least 194 pictures yearly to merely break even. Arnold Pressburger and Fortunio Bohnanova have agreed to produce here, employing Mexican technicians Reviews "Follow Me Quietly9' {RKO Radio) "POLLOW ME QUIETLY" is a routine cops-and-killer melodrama that _ makes the most of the action inherent in the plot. Centering on a fanatical killer who strikes during the rain, the picture's cast is headed by William Lundigan, and Dorothy Patrick. The screenplay, by Lillie Hayward, recounts in its opening sequences the futile attempts of detective Lundigan to snare the elusive killer known as "The Judge." To aggravate matters a little more for Lundigan, a foot-loose reporter, Miss Patrick, keeps constantly tailing him for a story. As the chase for the killer presses on, Lundigan and Miss Patrick get to "know each other a little better, and hence the romantic element soon develops. The climax to the story comes when "The Judge" is finally trapped in an aban doned gas plant ridden with mazes of pipes and platforms. Some wild chases up and down steel ladders, punctuated by noisy pistol shots, serve as the prelude to the killer's final plunge to death. Others in the cast are Jeff Corey, a detective aide to Lundigan, and Edwin Max, the killer. Under Richard O. Fleischer's direction, the picture emerges as a satisfactory little action melodrama. Herman Schlom produced. Running time, 59 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, July 14. Mandel Herbstman "Johnny Stool Pigeon" { U niver sal-International) TT OWARD DUFF, Shelley Winters and Dan Duryea share the lead in a -i -I rousing, _ adventurous yarn about narcotics agents of the Treasury Department in combat with an international gang of dope smugglers. "Johnny Stool Pigeon" is good, vigorous entertainment, and looks like a hands-down winner for any situation where patrons crave excitement. The story, somewhat akin in development to the same company's recent "Illegal Entry," gets underway as Federal agent Duff enlists the assistance of Duryea, long-termer atAlcatraz, in reaching the narcotics ring. The two pose as dealers in drugs and set a deal with illicit traders who operate from Vancouver to Mexico. Things get hot for Duff when his true identity becomes known but Duryea rescues him in a lively climax. The production is compact and efficient, the direction deft. Miss Winters, the girl friend of one of the dope peddlers, has a hankering for Duff but settles for the more available Duryea, whose aid in breaking the gang wins him a pardon for past offenses. Other players are Anthony Curtis, John Mclntyre, Gar Moore, Leif Erickson, Barry Kelley, Hugh Reilly and Wally Maher. Robert L. Richards' screenplay, from a story by Henry Jordan, was directed by William Castle, Aaron Rosenberg produced. Running time, 76 minutes. General audience classification. For August release. Gene Arneel MPAA Ask Coast {Continued from page 1) /. /. McKeon, Film Producer-Exhibitor John Joseph McKeon, early motion picture producer and board chairman of the Roxy Theatre here until his retirement 10 years ago, died Tuesday at the Hotel Biltmore, his home. At one time associated with Sam H. Harris in theatrical productions, McKeon was also connected with Jules E. Mastbaum in the operation of the Stanley circuit in Philadelphia. Among the pictures he produced was the "Lone Wolf," starring Jack Holt. He is survived by three sisters. Funeral Services for Al Orsatti Today Hollywood, July 13. — Funeral services will be held tomorrow morning at Calvary Cemetery Chapel, for Al Orsatti, agency executive, 48, who died yesterday at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital from a heart attack. Brothers Vic, Ernie, Jesse the widow, a son and father survive. He had been active for 20 years in the agency founded by his brother, Frank, who died three years ago. New Century Equipment Century Projector Corp. has a new line of dual-channel sound amplification systems and a new water-cooled projector mechanism. Cecil B. DeMille, chairman, participated in general discussion and a comparison of their own findings in a recently conducted survey with those submitted by the visiting party. The session was confined largely to a general outline of objectives, with little detail on ways and means. PCCITO to Poll Trustees On 'P.R.' Campaign Stand San Francisco', July 13. — Officials of the Pacific Coast Conference of Independent Theatre Owners who met here yesterday with Eric Johnston, Motion Picture Association of America president, and Francis Harmon, vice-president, stated they are personally willing to go along with the proposed industry public relations effort, which they believe to have merit, but will be unable to formally pledge themselves and their organization until all PCCITO trustees have been polled on the subject. Rotus Harvey, chairman of the board of trustees, was authorized to make the poll of trustees to determine the organization's stand and its willingness to participate in the allindustry public relations organizing meeting during the week of August 15. Harmon and Johnston described the meeting here as "very frank but exploratory." Can't Hold All-Industry 'P.R.' Meeting in Colorado Springs Industry officials have been advised that adequate hotel accommodations will not be available in Colorado Springs for the all-industry public relations organizing meeting during the week of August 15. Mackinac Island, Mich., is now under consideration. Canada Film Imports And Exports Decline Ottawa, July 13.— The Canadian government reports importations of films declined to $396,000 during April of this year compared with $463,000 in the same month last year, but increased to a cumulative total of $1,364,000 during the first four months of 1949, against $1,170,000 in the corresponding period a year ago. Exports of films from Canada declined to $440,000 during May, compared with $484,000 in the same month last year and dropped to a cumulative total of $1,510,000 in the first five months of this year against $1,714,000 in the same period a year ago. Kodak Cuts Production Rochester, N. Y., July 13.— Production cutbacks by Eastman Kodak will put employes at the company's three local plants on a "skip-week" basis— working three weeks and laying off one— by August 1, it was announced here. Egyptian Industry Better Cairo, July 10 (By Airmail).— There appears to be new life in the Egyptian film industry and all signs point to a more hopeful future. As the summer season gets under way, there are almost 250 film theatres in Egypt, including 80 in Cairo. Short Subject "New Adventures of Batman and Robin" {Columbia Serial) Based on the first two episodes of this 15-chapter two-reel serial, featuring the Batman and Robin comic-strip characters, the pair will have many exciting adventures before they discover the identity of the Wizard and capture him and his gang. Sam Katzman produced and Spencer Bennett and Durwin Abrams co-directed. Batman and Robin this time are searching for a stolen remote-control machine. The police commissioner asks them to help find the machine and the master mind of the gang, a hooded figure known as the Wizard. This machine controls objects within a radius of 50 miles and in the hands of the Wizard and his henchmen great disorder is being created. ABPC Report {Continued from page 1) elude issued capital stock and reserves, £$13,534,451 ; secured indebtedness, including mortgages, debentures, etc., £4,756,347; trade creditors, £1,706,798. Warter's report observes that it is necessary to point out that production, under present hazardous conditions, is only justified by the national interest and the necessity imposed by the Quota Act. A number of films have not recovered their production costs, even before providing for distribution expenses, he said. Warter for long has been a critic of the high quota and obviously is indicating that it is unprofitable to produce here for the present. The fact that ABPC's film production rights are valued at £706,553, compared with £867,630 last year when less production was under way, shows that costs have been cut to the bone. The report revealed that £7,376,944 was paid by the company in. entertainment tax during the year on a gross of £ 19,675,739, compared with a gross of £18,842,321 in the previous year._ Warter states that the industry is drifting into a serious situation due to the refusal of the Treasury to ameliorate the excessive entertainment tax burden. Warter expressed the hope that the board of Trade will amend the existing legislation to permit some ABC theatres quota relief. He expressed the belief that the best method of meeting the problems of production and distribution of British films is by joint arrangements providing guaranteed distribution in the United States, similar to ABPC's arrangement with Warners. Four More Pictures Classified by Legion Four additional films have been classified by the National Legion of Decency. Rated A-l was Screen Guild's "Arson, Inc." Classified A-ll were Screen Guild's "Omoo-Omoo," RKO Radio's "Savage Splendor" and Universal-International's "Once More My Darling."