Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1949)

6 Motion Picture Daily Monday, August 22, 1949 Conditions in Europe (Continued from page 1) film trade barriers, "that any more restriction would be constriction." Belfort's view is that some amelioration is due within a few months, especially in Sweden, where a complete freeze on U. S. film earnings is now in effect. Also, the 50 per cent block on earnings in Holland will be eased shortly, he expects. He reports that RKO is already marking gains in the 1949-'50 season in Europe over last year, this taking into account the big revenues he anticipates from "Joan of Arc." He said the film will play every important city in Western Europe in October with the availability of prints exceeding that for any other film. The Paris opening will be at the Opera House and for some charitable purpose, probably for the reconstruction of the Joan of Arc Museum in that city. Others which he cited of the current season's line-up were "The Mighty Joe Young," "The Set-Up" and "The Window." Remittance-wise. RKO is in "good shape" in France with frozen francs now being expended on the production of "White Tower" in that country and with franc-dollar exchanges with private foreign interests, Belfort reported. He reminded of RKO's transaction with a Swiss tanker company, the latter having used the film company's francs for ship repairs and paying RKO in dollars here. Belfort will return to Paris next month. He has been with RKO 20 years, having joined the company following high school graduation, as a page. This is his first visit to the States in a year and a half. National Video for Mexico After Sept. 1 Mexico City, Aug. 21. — Television in Mexico will advance toward materialization through a code-law which President Miguel Aleman will present to the 1949-50 Federal legislature when it opens on Sept. 1. The Ministry of Communications and Public Works will govern video as it does radio. The code-law prevents video monopolies by refusing special privileges and allowing every solvent company and individual an equal chance to obtain concessions, the Ministry said. It revealed that President Aleman held back in completing the code-law until he studied similar measures in force in the U. S., Great Britain and France so that the latest features of their measures could govern Mexico. Mexico's commercial video pioneer, Emilio Azcarraga, prominent exhibitor and operator of local radio stations XEW, XEQ and XEOY, expects to get one of the first franchises. He recently tested video in the Cine Alameda here, first-run theatre that heads his Cadena de Oro (Golden Chain) circuit. He predicts at least 26 video stations will be operating here by the end of next year. MP A A 'Canada' Film 5th in MPAA Series Endorsed by Eric A. Johnston and the Motion Picture Association of America as the fifth subject in the MPAA's public affairs series, "Canada Unlimited" brings to the screen all the material splendor of our neighbor to the North, and emphasizes particularly the extent to which the Dominion has opened its doors and heart to refugees from European tyranny. A picture of high merit on a number of counts, this latest edition of RKO Radio's "This Is America" two-reel series was produced by Jay Bonafield, directed by David Cooper, supervised by Phil Reisman, Jr., narrated by Dwight Weist, recorded by Francis Woolley, with music under the direction of Nathaniel Shilkret. "Canada Unlimited" manifests expert attention by each of the individuals who contributed to its production. This fact, together with the fact that it provides a singularly illuminating appraisal of Canadian resources and potentialities, makes it a film that can be recommended most highly to exhibitors everywhere in the U. S. Recommending it in those terms becomes especially correct when one takes into account that the picture approaches its subject from the viewpoints and conceptions held by Americans in different parts of the country. Power plants, dams, forests, industries, cities and the enormity of Canada's land range, are examined selectively by the camera in conjunction with the meaning in material advantage that country has for immigrants from Europe. Put this one on your schedule, Mr. Exhibitor, for it will be a distinct credit to any program. C. L. F. Picture Pioneers (Continued from page 1) Build Drive-in in 3 Weeks Albany, N. Y., Aug. 21. — Construction of a 600-car drive-in within three weeks is the goal of Griffing Construction Co., Abilene, Texas, contractor. The open air theatre is going uo near Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and will be operated by Harry Lamont, who plans to open on Labor Day. will be to offer financial and other forms of assistance to those pioneers of the motion picture industry who are in need. The idea for the establishment of such a foundation was presented at last year's Pioaeer dinner when Cohn offered it as a possible course of action for the organization. The suggestion met with immediate acceptance from the gathering, and even though no formal plan had been' evolved, several members of the Pioneers expressed a desire to leave contributions for the Foundation that night. Subsequently at a meeting of the board of directors of the Pioneers, the form which the Foundation would take was decided upon and voted by the directors. Columbia Meeting (Continued from page 1) 4th Foreign 'Joan' Run RKO Radio-Sierra Pictures' "Joan of Arc" will have its Australian premiere on Aug. 26 in the Hoyt Circuit's first-run, the Century, in Sydney. This will be the fourth foreign opening of "Joan," which began its worldwide release in June in London. The Walter Wanger production then opened in Dublin, and last week began a twin-theatre, three-city run in Portof-Spain, Trinidad, and Barbados and Georgetown, British Guiana. Toronto House Opens Toronto, Aug. 21.— The Bedford Theatre in suburban North Toronto, rebuilt during the past three months as deluxe unit of 20th Century Theatres, has been reopened as the Park. voted largely to discussions of overall business matters. During the convention the delegates also will have screened for them six of the productions scheduled by Columbia for the coming year. They are : "Jolson Sings Again," "All the King's Men," "Tell It to the Judge," "Tokyo Joe," "The Blank Wall" and "Miss Grant Takes Richmond." Home office representatives present at the meetings, in addition to Montague, will be Rube Jackter, assistant sales manager ; Louis Astor, Louis Weinberg and Irving Wormser, circuit sales executives ; Maurice Grad, short subjects sales manager; George Josephs, assistant to Montague ; H. C. Kaufman, manager of exchange oper ations ; Leo Jaffe, assistant treasurer , Joseph Freiberg, manager of sales accounting ; Seth Raisler, manager of the contract department ; Irving Moross, legal department ; Vincent Borelli, assistant to circuit sales executives ; Irving Sherman and Sydney Singerman, assistant managers of ex change operations. The nine division managers are : Nat Cohn, New York ; S. A. Galanty, Mideast; Jerome Safron, Western; Carl Shalit, Central ; R. J. Ingram, Southeast ; J. B. Underwood, Southwest ; I. H. Rogovin, New England B. C. Marcus, Midwest, and H. E. Weiner, Southern New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. The branch managers will include J. C. Bullwinkle, Albany ; George Roscoe, Atlanta; T. F. O'Brien, Boston; Phil Fox, Buffalo ; R. D. Williamson, Charlotte ; B. J. Lourie, Chicago ; A. S. Moritz, Cincinnati ; O. J. Ruby, Cleveland; R. C. Hill, Denver; Clark Baker, Des Moines ; E. Hochstim, Detroit ; W. Guy Craig, Indianapolis ; Tom Baldwin, Kansas City ; W. C Ball, Los Angeles ; H. Chrisman Memphis; H. Olshan, Milwaukee; H J. Chapman. Minneapolis ; Walter Silverman, New Haven ; H. Duvall, New Orleans ; Saul Trauner, New York C. A. Gibbs, Oklahoma City; J. H Jacobs, Omaha ; George Tice, Pittsburgh; J. R. Beale, Portland; W. G Seib, Salt Lake City; L. E. Tillman San Francisco; L. N. Walton, Seattle C. D. Hill, St. Louis; Ben Caplon. Washington. Tuesday's sessions will be devoted to a review of all of the product which Columbia will release between Sept., 1949, and Sept., 1950. At that meeting a general, overall distribution policy for the entire program will be established. 17 Additional Films Classified by Legion Of 17 additional films reviewed by the National Legion of Decency, only one, "I Was a Male War Bride" (20th-Fox), received a Class B rating. Classified A-I are : Universal-International's "Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer" and "Silver Butte"; M-G-M's "Battleground"; Columbia's "The Blazing Trail" ; Eagle-Lion's "Down Memory Lane" and "The Weaker Sex" (Rank), and Republic's "South of Rio" and "Wyoming Bandit." Classified A-II are: EagleLion's "Black Shadows" ; UniversalInternational's "Black Lagoon" and "Johnny Stool Pigeon"; RKO Radio's "Follow Me Quietly" ; Warner's "It's a Great Feeling" ; Columbia's "Law of the Barbary Coast"; United Artists' "Red Light," and 20th-Fox's "Slatery's Hurricane." All American Plan (Continued from page 1) joint effort after April 1, 1950, in consequence of deals it has pending with British interests. The so-called all-American doublefeature program arrangement was adopted in the fall of 1948 by the seven companies in the face of British remittance and quota restrictions, and, on June 10, 1949, was extended to March 31, 1950. The effecting of extensions several months or more in advance of expiration dates is necessary because booking of U. S. product into British theatres must be arranged considerably in advance of actual showings, it was explained. Universal-International, Eagle-Lion and United Artists never were participants in the plan. U-I and E-L are J. Arthur Rank "partners" in the sense that they distribute Rank product in the U. S., and UA, distributor of product of various independent American producers, cannot engage in such an arrangement in behalf of all of its component companies. — I FCC Giveaway Ban (Continued from page 1) groups around the country which felt that, by offering prizes valued at many thousands of dollars, the shows represented unfair competition. In Washington, National Association of Broadcasters president Justin Miller said he hoped sponsors of affected shows would go to court on the matter, and termed the FCC action "an intrusion into the administration of administrative law." The FCC banned giveaway programs as lotteries and announced that it will refuse to license or renew the licenses of broadcast applicants or broadcasters who air such shows after Oct. 1. The decision came after a year of deliberation. Both FCC authority and the accuracy of the language which holds giveaways to be lotteries will be challenged^ ABC charges that the FCC, "as a result of the action of only three of its members, has taken action that is inconsistent with the system of private broadcasting which has flourished in this country, and is a first step by the Federal government into actual program planning." Name 4 Coordinators (Continued from page 1) member of the company's field sales organization. The branch managers' testimonial will get under way on Aug. 28. The following were named divisional coordinators : South, Paul S. Wilson, assistant Southern sales manager; West, Bryan D. Stoner, assistant Western sales manager ; Central, Joseph B. Rosen, Cincinnati branch manager ; Yankee, Joseph St. Clair, assistant to division manager Martin Moskowitz. Coordinators for the New Enerland, Mid^astern, Midwestern and Canadian divisions will be named today. Meetings are also scheduled for today at all exchanges for the election of branch captains by employes. Sullivan to Florida Theatre Owners of America executive director Gael Sullivan will be a speaker at a meeting tomorrow in Jacksonville of the Florida State Theatres Association, a TOA affiliate.