Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1950)

6 Motion Picture Daily Monday, May 29 UA Stock (Continued from page 1) titv of the prospective purchaser mentioned by Sears Thursday night in the only official comment he has made on the matter. Reports that a third group was preparing to bid for the stock could not be confirmed. .Meanwhile, UA producers not directly concerned in the stock negotiations were told individually by Sears that the board feels the company's best interests will be served if the contemplated transaction can bring the company not only financial resources, but also solid" assurances of a continuing supply of top quality product. Sam Katz, mentioned in early reports as a member of the group being formed by Popkin. said Friday, on the eve of entraining for Chicago, that he was not actively engaged in the negotiations but had been sounded out on having the proposition brought to him for consideration, which had not yet been done. He said his attitude would depend wholly on the nature of the deal proposed. The 12,000 shares offered for sale represent 60 per cent of the UA stock and have been accumulated by the treasury as successive owners withdrew from the company. The remaining stock, and control of the company, is owned by Mary Pickford and Charles Chaplin to the amount of 4,000 shares each. Eight Pre Releases For Para.'s 'Lawless* Preceding the July general release date of the William Pine-William Thomas production of "The Lawless," eight pre-release key dates have been set for early June, it was announced by A. W. Schwalberg, president of Paramount Film Distributing Corp. "The Lawless" will have its world premiere at the Aztec Theatre, San Antonio on June 8, and will be followed by pre-release engagements at the Center Theatre, Buffalo ; St. Francis, San Francisco ; Madison, Detroit ; Paramount and Fenway, Boston ; Stillman, Cleveland ; Center, Fall Fiver, and the Olympic, in New Bedford. Two Operate Exchange Minneapolis, May 28. — Dick Stahl and Alorrie Steinman, veteran Minneapolis distributors, have acquired an equal financial interest in the LippertXorth Star independent exchange, Minneapolis, and will be associated in the venture with Julius (Jack) Collier. The latter will continue his interests in the exchange but operations will be handled by Stahl and Steinman. BANKING FOR THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY ftre?,s Trust Ban Compan NEW YORK MEMBER FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION Review 'So Young, So Bad* (Dauaiger — United Artists) CADISTIC conditions prevailing at a corrective home for girls has been ^ used as the basis for an explosive drama in "So' Young, So Bad." Shot on location here in the East, there are some good authentic touches in this production of the Danziger Brothers — Edward J. and Harry Lee. Paul Henreid provides the top marquee name as the psychiatrist at the institution, who, in an effort to improve conditions, is constantly embattled with the cruelty and stupidity of officials. The story is an uneven one, sometimes fresh and forceful, at other times, conventional. On the whole, adult audiences should find it diverting and absorbing". A lot of fresh young talent is used for the roles of the girls at the home. The film focusses on four of them who are sent to the institution for various unfortunate reasons. They are: Anne Francis, Rosita Moreno, Enid Pulver and Anne Jackson. Related largely in retrospect, the story shows how cruelty and neglect are heaped upon the girls until their long-simmering anger boils over and they escape. With the aid of Catherine McLeod, a social worker, Henreid is finally able to bring about an investigation of conditions and pave the way for improvement. A romantic relationship between the two has also been woven into the screenplay, written by Jean Rouverol and Bernard Vorhaus. Others in the cast are Cecil Clovelly, the institution's suavely villainous head, and Grace Coppin, the invidious matron. Vorhaus also directed. Running time, 88 minutes. Adult audience classification. Release date, May 26. Mandel Herbstman Lippert Blasts (Continued from page 1) the "B's" they are turning out," Lippert complained. He added that whereas he produced 32 low-budget pictures this year, he will make only 16 next year as a direct result of the "expensive" "B's" which he says are being made by some majors. Lippert charged that some distributors are practically "giving away" to the exhibitors some of the additional pictures they have been making. He contended that "50 per cent of the pictures they are turning out are 'B's'." The "monster" of this expanded production set-up is distribution, which has been "hammering away" at the studios to turn out more features so the sales departments' costs can be made to appear lower, Lippert said. "The public can smell a bad picture today," said Lippert, who owns a circuit of 64 theatres in Northern California and Southern Oregon. The "worst thing" that Hollywood could do in these times, he held, is to increase production without regard to quality. Lippert, who recently completed a nationwide tour, during which he conferred with exhibitors in all sections, said business in the key cities is off 35 per cent compared with 1948, while the so-called "grind" houses are doing about 25 per cent less business. Neighborhoods are off to about the same extent as the "grinds" are, but theatre business in "controlled country towns" has dropped only five per cent, according to Lippert's analysis of conditions. FWC Cuts Some Prices Los Angeles, May 28. — Fox West Coast has reduced admissions to 20 cents, typically from 60 cents to 40 cents, at 21 neighborhood houses in this area. The move does not indicate general circuit policy, the company said, but is being made only in areas where diminished employment or similar causes create distressed conditions. Plan Coast TV City Hollywood, May 28. — Plans for the construction of a "television city" on the 15-acre tract at present occupied by the Gilmore Stadium are disclosed by Columbia Broadcasting. The development is tentatively slated to start July 21, 1951. Merged Company (Continued from page 1) of the two companies. E-L exchanges are being chosen largely because they provide more space than FC branch offices, and the maximum available space will be required by the new company. About 50 per cent of the personnel, including branch managers and salesmen, of the two companies will be retained. The rest are being given notice of dismissal. The companies have yet to confer with various employes' unions involved on severance pay. L. Jack Schlaifer, E-L sales manager and veteran industry sales executive, is being dropped. Arrangements have been made to continue both Leon Brandt, E-L advertising-publicity director, and Syd Gross, FC advertising-publicity director, with the new company. Their duties have not been clearly defined yet, however. Indications are that the -personnel of both departments will be cut drastically ; that the art departments will be eliminated entirely and permanent field staffs dispensed with. The new company will maintain 28 exchanges ; those already closed by E-L in New Haven, Albany and Omaha will not be reopened. Daff Promoted (Continued from page 1) anese subsidiary, in 1935. In 1938 he was appointed Far Eastern supervisor, his territory being enlarged to include all of the Eastern Hemisphere outside of Europe. In 1942 he returned to New_ York due to the Pacific War and in 1943 he was appointed foreign supervisor. In 1944 he was elected vice-president of UT. New WB Studio Posts (Continued from page 1) pointments being considered, it was disclosed here at the weekend by Jack L. Warner, production vice-president. Fehr will be assistant to William Jacobs and Weisbart will assist Henry Blanke. The new posts were made necessary, Warner stated, by the heavy production schedules assigned to the two producers. Blanke's agenda has eight screen, plays to be prepared for production and Jacobs has nine in work. $500,000 Fi At Col. Studi Hollywood, May 28. — Ap mately $500,000 damage was ^ by a fire which swept a porti Columbia's ranch studio at Btl at the weekend. No injuries resulted from the, which was of undetermined origi were any negatives lost. T completely covered by insur! cording to the company. It w;' second Columbia fire within weeks, the first having been ; Havana exchange. Presides Over Lunch Cincinnati, May 28. — I. E. wick, president of the Indep<; Motion Picture Producers Assoc and engaged in a 23-city tour change centers, presided at a lui for exhibitors here on Friday. C West, Monogram franchise here, arranged the affair, whic; held at the Variety Club. Ch? is due in Washington tomorrow DAYLIGHT and OVERNIGHT DC-6 MAINLINE 300s \ II hrs. onesfojo to LOS ANGELES Leave 11 am, arrive 6:55 f Leave 1 1:55 pm,arrive 7:50 Flights operate on Standard ti Call UNITED AIR Lim OR, AN AUTHORIZED TRAVEL AGENT 1>