Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1950)

I Tuesday, February 28, 1950 Motion Picture Daily Jersey Allied Meets June 15 At a general membership meeting here yesterday, New Jersey Allied set June 15-17 for the holding of the organiza'' ''s annual convention at the TrayrlS® Hotel, Atlantic City. According to New Jersey Allied president Wilbur Snaper, it was reported at the meeting that the consensus among New Jersey Allied members is that theatre business dropped i 18 per cent in the state compared to a year ago, at which time, it was estimated, a drop of 10 per cent was recorded as compared with the previous year. Snaper reviewed for the meeting the progress being made on the industry's drive for repeal of the 20 per cent Federal admission tax. Quimby Directors Get Eight Year C ontracts Hollywood, Feb. 27. — William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, co-directors for the Tom and Jerry cartoon series, have signed an eight-year contract with M-G-M, according to Fred Quimby, producer of the series. Korda-Selznick (Continued from page 1 ) to Earth." The Selznick application, which is returnable today before Judge Kaufman, contended that the version departs from the original, detracts from Jennifer Jones' professional standing, and lists other objections. The dispute involves an agreement by which Korda was given Eastern Hemisphere rights to Selznick's "Portrait of Jennie" and "The Paradine Case" in return for Western Hemisphere rights to Selznick of Korda's "The Third Man" and "Gone to Earth." Korda also received the services of Joseph Cotten, Miss Jones (Selznick's wife) and Alida Valli, Selznick stars, and advisory services from Selznick. Korda brought the action, alleging breaches of the original agreement and seeking a better share of distribution income from his pictures here. In filing in the United States court, Korda submitted to its jurisdiction and thus could be restrained from licensing his own picture in Britain and elsewhere in the Eastern Hemisphere in the event the injunction is granted to Selznick. However, the dispute over the acceptability in its present form of "Gone to Earth" is one of the matters which the two have agreed to submit to arbitration. Accept for 20th's Meet (Continued from page 1) Century-Fox's plan for increased showmanship, and open-forum discussions on attracting greater attendance at theatres. Additional exhibitor acceptances are : Emil Bernstecker, James Gregory, John Doerr, Harry Arthur, Van Noniikos, Eddie Arthur, Joe Blumenfeld, Myron Blank, Marc Wolf, G. Ralph Branton, A. C. Myrick, Dale Danielson, C. Elmer Nolte,. Harry Brandt, Fred Schwartz, Max Cohen. Dan Murphy, James Booth. Wilbur Snaper, Morris Finkel, T. M. McDouglad, Elmer Rhoden. Also Ralph Adams, Ed Haas, James Long, Leon Robertson, Fred Souttar, John Meinardi, W. J. Souttar, L. A. Breuninger, ('. C. Murray, George I. Hunter, Vic Jones, Don Douglas, Martin Mullin, Larry Bearg, Robert J. Libson, Louis J. Finske, M. M. Mesher. Reviews 'Perfect Strangers" ( W arner Brothers) THE latest vehicle for Ginger Rogers is a romantic drama about two married persons who meet and fall in love while serving on a murder trial jury. Dennis Morgan shares the lead with Miss Rogers, with others in the cast including Thelma Ritter, Margalo Gillmore and Anthony Ross. The picture has some good moments of humor and pathos which suggest exploitable angles, but generally it is wanting in freshness and a sense of dramatic momentum. The trial involves a man accused of having killed his wife for the love of his secretary. As the case proceeds, the attraction between Miss Rogers and Morgan deepens. The jury of 12 which the screenplay of Edith Sommer has created forms an amusing cross-section. There is the aging Lothario, a truck driver's simple-minded wife, a snob, a would-be comedian, a sourpuss, etc. It is the antics of these jurors that round out the story. Anyone who has served on a jury will find a sense of amused recognition as the jury goes through its paces. As the story draws to a close the accused man is acquitted, thanks largely to the persuasive efforts of Morgan and Miss Rogers. The problem now at hand is whether jurors Morgan and Miss Rogers should seek divorces in order to marry one another or return to their respective spouses. After weighing the matter, they decide on the latter alternative. Jerry Wald produced and Bretaigne Windust directed from a story based on a stage play by Charles MacArthur and Ben Hecht. Running time, 88 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, March 25. Mandel Herbstman "Quicksand" (Stief el— United Artists) THE lesson that crime does not pay is driven home with melodramatic forcefulness in "Quicksand." Tautness of direction and brisk action combine to lift this routine melodrama high in its category. Mickey Rooney has the lead, with Jeanne Cagney and Barbara Bates providing the attractive feminine support, while Peter Lorre adds his familiar touch of passionless evil. Rooney, a garage mechanic, is launched on his unfortunate adventure when he decides to take some money from his boss's cash register in order to impress Miss Cagney on their first date. Rooney has every intention of putting the money back on pay day. The auditor, however, makes an unexpected visit to the garage, and in order to get the money back, Rooney buys a watch on the installment plan and then hocks it. The deal gets him into more difficulties and soon he sinks deeper and deeper into dishonest maneuvers. Presently he commits a holdup and then Lorre tightens a blackmailer's clutch upon him. To appease Lorre, Rooney steals a car for him and finally he winds up by killing a man. At this point in the original screenplay by Robert Smith, Rooney's fairweather friend, Miss Cagney, deserts him, while Miss Bates rallies to his aid. The story reaches a climax in Rooney's wild flight from the police. The officers finally catch up with him and it is discovered that the man Rooney presumably had killed was actually only badly shaken. At the final curtain, Rooney, at worst, faces only a few years in prison with, of course, Miss Bates waiting for him. A Samuel H. Stiefel production, it was produced by Mort Briskin and directed by Irving Pichel. Running time, 79 minutes. General audience classification. Release date March 24. M H "Young Daniel Boone" (Monogram) Hollywood, Feb. 27 tpRONTIER warfare is given an interesting and effective treatment in this 1 historical tale of young Daniel Boone in 1755. Produced in Cinecolor by James S. Burkett from a script by Clint Johnson and Reginald LeBorg and directed by the latter, the picture is alive with action and Indians and is certain to be popular with children as well as educational. The part of young Boone is played by David Bruce, with Kristine Miller as the girl who ultimately becomes Mrs. Boone. Boone, as a scout, is sent into the wilderness to locate possible survivors of an Indian massacre. He learns that two girls are being held by the Indians, and is joined in his quest by a French officer who, while supposedly friendly, betrays the party into Indian captivity. Exercising the ingenuity long associated with his name, Boone manages to extricate himself and the girls from their predicament, killing the traitor meanwhile, and bringing his companions to safety. Running time, 71 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, not set. 'Brotherhood' (Continued from page 1) Maury Goldstein, Monogram ; Monroe Goodman, Paramount ; Harry Marcus, Republic ; Jack Mclnerney, United Paramount ; Bob Mochrie, RKO ; John O'Connor, Universal. Also Pat Scollard, Paramount ; L. V. Schlaifer, Eagle-Lion ; Pincus Sober, Loew's. Fourth Fireless Year (Continued from page 1) John B. McCullough, director of the department, credits the record to the association's field work and to the cooperation of regional directors and exchange personnel. Under the program's self-regulatory system, each of the companies' exchanges is inspected monthly. TVA Letter Again Asks SAG Board For 'Joint Action' Charging that the Screen Actors Guild has "taken a backward step on the road to peace," making it "extremely difficult" to resolve the current jurisdictional dispute over television film talent, Television Authority, organized by the majority of the "4A's" talent unions, has again urged the SAG to "reconsider its position so that we can go forward in the interests of our joint membership." The accusations and the plea highlight a letter which George Heller, national TVA executive secretary, has sent to the SAG's board in Hollywood. Faris to Report on COMPO's Tax Fight Hollywood, Feb. 27. — Marvin Faris, executive secretary of the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers, will report on the progress in COMPO's tax fight at the regular meeting of the Motion Picture Industry Council on Wednesday. Roy Brewer, who takes over from Ronald Reagan as chairman on Wednesday, is expected to report on his recent meeting with industry executives in New York on the use of funds frozen abroad. Paul Grosse, president of the Society of Motion Picture Art Directors, will be confirmed as co-chairman to succeed Brewer. Social Security (Continued from page 1) House would require owners of theatres which use name bands on their stage shows to pay social security taxes for the bandsmen. The bill would classify these players as "employes." The MPAA will ask the Senate Committee to leave unchanged the present law which classifies these bandsmen as "independent contractors" for whom the theatres have no social security liability. Wanted FOR STEALING ARIZONA THE Baron °Akizona ALIAS: JAMES ADDISON REAVIS ALIAS: VINCENT PRICE DESCRIPTION: The Most Fascinating and Fabulous Swindler of Our Time REWARD: Two Hours of Thrilling Entertainment