Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1949)

Wednesday, October 5, 1949 Motion Picture Daily 3 Green Opposes AGVA Action Against AFM President William Green of the American Federation of Labor told delegates to the AFL convention in St. Paul yesterday that action by the American Guild of Variety Artists in seeking an injunction against James C. Petrillo and the American Federation of Musicians was "indefensible," AFM spokesman reported here yesterday. Both unions are AFL affiliates. The jurisdictional dispute between the two unions has threatened stage shows and vaudeville, since Petrillo has indicated he would "pull" musicians from theatres and other places of amusement unless AGVA accedes to his warning against assessing AFM members. In New York a hearing on the application for a preliminary injunction has been set for Friday in State Supreme Court here. Will Standardize 'TV Film Rentals With a blast at "demoralizing trade practices, that have aroused the ire of 'TV film distributors," the National Television Film Council has begun a survey of video market areas to determine the correct proportion of film costs that should be allocated to television stations throughout the country. A committee has been appointed by John H. Mitchell, sales manager of United Artists Television and chairman of NTFC's distribution committee, to recommend a method of standardization for film rentals. It is anticipated that the structure will use as its guide either the number of sets in the telecast area, station time charges, or both. D. of J. Hits Appeal Of Lawson, Trumbo Washington, Oct. 4. — The Department of Justice appeared today before the U. S. Supreme Court to oppose the petition for that court's review of the contempt of Congress conviction of screen writers John Howard Lawson and Dalton Trumbo who were cited for refusing to answer questions of the House Un-American Activities Committee in its 1947 investigation of Communism in Hollywood. The government made only one reservation to its statement that a lower court was correct in upholding the conviction and that the decision should not be reviewed by the high court. This reservation pointed out that Lawson and Trumbo, among other things, challenged the legality of Federal workers serving on their jury. The high court has agreed to rule on this question in another case, involving Eugene Dennis, the Justice Department said, and therefore the Lawson-Trumbo appeals would rest on that decision. Says Unions Would 'Penalize' IMPPA Hollywood, Oct. 4. — Contracts offered the Independent Motion Picture Producers Association by studio unions contained certain penalty clauses not present in major studio contracts, I. E. Chadwick, IMPPA president said here today, in clarifying his suggestion last week that IMPPA dissolve itself because of union demands. These penalty clauses, Chadwick said, would mean that members of the IMPPA would be penalized, while dissolution of the IMPPA would free them to seek better individual pacts. Meanwhile, work continues under the expired contract, with no deadline set by either side on negotiations. 525 Bookings for 'Father' in a Week Launching of an "All-American Premiere" contest in connection with "Father Was a Fullback" has given the picture a record total of 525 bookings throughout the country, it was announced by A. W. Smith, sales vice-president of 20th Century-Fox. The contest began last Wednesday and will close on Dec. 4. Hold FTC Complaint On Bids Is Invalid Hollywood, Oct. 4. — Marco Wolff's complaint filed with the Federal Trade Commission on the "unfairness" of competitive bidding stems from the inability of his Rio Theatre, on the fringes of Inglewood, to qualify for Inglewood first-run, according to distribution spokesmen. They said experience has shown that a prior run for the Rio is no more justified than his FTC complaint. In endeavoring to substantiate this, film company representatives said that Paramount licensed "The Paleface" to the Rio on day and date with Inglewood first-run, that the latter was hurt by the simultaneous booking, proving substantial competition, and that the Rio grossed only about onehalf of the amount normally expected on the run and for a picture of the type. Acquire 'Shamed' Rights Arthur H. Canton and Sanford Weiner, currently releasing "Outcry" in association with Jack Ellis, have acquired U. S. distribution rights for "Shamed," Italian importation. It will have its American premiere here Oct. 12 at the Stanley Theatre. Other acquisitions will be announced shortly. Refinance Film Center Bldg. Here Refinancing of the Film Center Building here has been announced by Samuel Kronsky Co., broker, with a $2,200,000 mortgage replaced by a first mortgage for $1,500,000 issued by Prudential Insurance Co. for 15 years. Former bondholders are receivingpayment in full, plus accrued interest, according to the broker. Among the tenants of the 13-story building are branches of M-G-M, RKO Radio, Paramount, Universal and National Screen. Unfreeze $1,200,000 Of Blocked Funds Washington, Oct. 4. — The Colombian Government has made provision for film companies to remit over the next five years the $1,200,000 blocked in Colombia prior to May 20, 1949, the U. S. Commerce Department reported. The Department said that a new regulation also will permit remitting of about 60 per cent of current earnings. The blocked earnings plan was suggested by the governmental Office of Exchange Control and was accepted by the film companies. Sees Devaluing Not Affecting Exhibition Devaluation will not affect British exhibition whatsoever, David E. Grif fiths, president of the Kinematograph Renters Society, asserted here yesterday on his arrival on the -9.5". Queen Elisabeth from London. He said it was more a problem for distributors. Griffiths declined comment in gen eral, saying he was here "to meet people" and that he had little to say He pointed out that U.K. exhibition business at the moment "was up." He said that in June and July it had fallen off 20 to 25 per cent as compared to the same period last year. In August and September of this year, "business was very satisfactory." Griffiths is a director of International Film Renters, which holds Film Classics' British franchise. Yugoslavia to Raise U. S. Importations Strained political relations between Soviet Russia and Yugoslavia and the consequent improvement in relations between the latter and the U. S. are expected to result in a substantial increase in the number of American films imported by Marshal Tito. Under the present Johnston-Tito film agreement there are but three U. S. features that have yet to be re'eased in Yugoslavia out of the 25 originally stipulated in the pact. That country is slated to be one of the first which Motion Picture Export Association vice-president Irving A. Maas will visit on his forthcoming fall-winter tour of Eastern Europe. It is held likely that he will return with a new agreement containing widened advantages for Hollywood product. ECA Advisers (Continued from page 1 ) 11 on Engel's Schedule Hollywood, Oct. 4. — With one picture now before cameras in England, 20th Century-Fox producer Sam Engel currently is supervising 10 highbudget productions. Now being readied for early starting are : "The Foreign Service Story," "Royal Canadian Mounted Police Story," "21 Bow Street," "The Jackpot," "International Criminal Police Story," "Ransom," "FBI of Horse Racing," "Fire," "Accustomed As I Am," and "Spare the Rod." Some titles are tentative. Total of 12 writers are working on scripts. The producer also has "Night and the City" being filmed in London, with Gene Tierney and Richard Widmark. Sir Sidney Clift Picks Dodgers to Win Series With a haughty but persistent sweep of his arm, Sir Sidney Clift prominent British exhibitor, spurned industry questions put to him yesterday by trade reporters on his arrival on the -S\S" Queen Elizabeth. Sir Sidney was a little more voluble about baseball. He said he didn't think too much about American baseball because "players here have to wear gloves to catch balls." He pointed out that cricket players in England have little use for protective gloves. Sir Sidney ventured, however, that "the Dodgers would win." Sir Sidney, a director of International Film Renters, which holds Film Classics' British franchise, was preceded here by reports from London that he would confer with David H. Coplan, organizer of that group, and Joseph Bernhard, F-C president. U-I's 'Abandoned' Bows Detroit, Oct. 4. — Universal-International's "Abandoned" had its world premiere at the Downtown Theatre here tonight under the sponsorship of the Detroit Times for the benefit of the Salvation Army's Booth Memorial Hospital Fund. The opening was preceded by a parade headed by Salvation Army units. Gale Storm and Meg Randall, players of the film, aided in the promotional campaign and made personal appearances at the theatre. Miss Storm' is scheduled to move on to New York, Philadelphia and Boston to aid in the promotion of the film there. films distributed in Marshall Plan areas, and also protect ECA from attacks by critics of ECA and of the film industry, charging that ECA is wasting taxpayers money to support unimportant Hollywood productions. Formation of this committee is delaying ECA action on MPEA's request for a $1,066,000 guarantee for operations in Germany during the last five months of 1949, and is also delaying action on various applications for film guarantees after Jan. 1. It is possible that ECA may enter some interim arrangement on the MPEA contract for current distribution, since it has run into unusual delays in getting the advisory committee formed. ECA is trying to keep the group small — three to five and to include one industry; representative. It is here that it is running into the most difficulty — getting" someone acceptable to all producer-distributor groups. The other members, under present ECA plans, would not be government officials but rather distinguished non-government leaders. Quincy Howe as head of the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures seems almost certain to be named, and ECA is now scanning a list of about 12 other names. Need for the advisory committee has developed since the Army gave up its control over these activities in Germany and Austria. The Army had been exercising supervision over film contents under the ECA guarantee program. ECA feels some other group should now take over this function, especially since there seems to be an indication of growing criticism of the film guarantee program. Sen. Langer in his recent attack on the industry in the Senate laid much stress on alleged abuses in this program. ECA believes that it will be in a much better position to defend its record if it can say, "these films were all approved by this non-partisan committee." Dieterle Says Costs In Italy 40% Less Production costs in Italy are about 40 per cent less than here, William Dieterle, producer-director, asserted here yesterday on his arrival on the S.S. Queen Elizabeth. While _ there Dieterle shot background material for "September," a Hal Wallis Production, and completed "Volcano," the latter to be released here by Motion Pictures Sales Corp.