Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1950)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Accurate Concise Impartial VOL. 6!. . Nr Tl8 NEW YORK, U. S. A., THURSDAY, JULY 27, 1950 TEN CENTS A Compromise Shapes Up in London Talks War Crisis Spurs a Deal On Convertibility Issue By PETER BURNUP London, July 26. — In view of the increasing seriousness of the Korean situation, together with the likelihood of higher taxation here, both sides in the re-negotiation of the AngloAmerican film agreement have tacitly accepted the inevitability of a compromise between Motion Picture Association of America president Eric A. Johnston and British Board of Trade president Harold Wilson. Wilson maintains that the imperativeness of American aid to declining British production must be the keystone of a new {Continued on page 6) MPEA Pacts in 7 European States Will Be Renewed Motion Picture Export Association's contracts in Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russia and Yugoslavia are slated for renewal, it was indicated here yesterday. The present pacts covering those countries expire on Aug. 31. The MPEA board has all but given its final approval to their renewal and this will be forthcoming, it is understood, following a report next week by Herbert J. Erlanger, MPEA assistant secretary-treasurer. He is sched (Continued on page 6) 'Full Dress' US-UK Meet Due Next Week London, July 26. — A "full dress" and definitive meeting between Eric Johnston, Ellis Arnall and Harold Wilson in the current re-negotiation of the Anglo-American film agreement is expected to take place next week. Johnston flew to Paris tonight presumably on impending re-negotiation of the Franco-American film agreement. He is due back here on Sunday to resume discussions with Wilson who postponed his vacation which was scheduled to begin Friday. ELC Will Meet to Aid Box -Office Eagle Lion Classics will sponsor a series of meetings between executives of the company, producers and their representatives and managers of circuit theatres on future ELC product to discuss overall publicity and promotion plans and the best possible methods of getting the "lost public" back to the theatre. "First concerted attack on this common industry problem came yesterday," said the company, with a meeting conducted by William J. Heineman, ELC's sales vice-president, on "Guilty of Treason," which has been booked into the Skouras, Century, (Continued on page 2) Mono., Lippert Talk a Deal Hollywood, July 26. — Steve Broidy, Monogram president, reported today that he and Robert L. Lippert, president of Lippert Productions, have discussed a possible arrangement under which physical handling of Monogram and Lippert product would be placed with the same exchanges. Emphasizing that the arrangement would in no sense be a merger of the two companies, Broidy indicated that so far the talks between the two have been exploratory. The Lippert franchise holders' meeting in New York is discussing the proposal. Allied Caravan Meet Underway in Chicago Chicago, July 26. — A meeting of local divisional representatives of Allied States Association's Caravan group got underway today in the first of a two-day session at the Congress Hotel. The organization is discussing unification methods and practices of handling Caravan, which makes market reports on films. Col. H. A. Cole, chairman of the Caravan committee and board member of Allied, presided. Also attending were Trueman T. Rembusch, national Allied president, Abram F. Myers, general counsel and other Allied leaders from throughout the country. FCC Gives 'Green Light9 To Phonevision Test Run Two Foreign Heads At U. A. Leaving Harry W. Schroeder, foreign sales manager for United Artists since 1943, and Thomas P. Mulrooney, assistant foreign sales manager, will leave the company shortly as a result of the control shift to the Paul V. McNutt-Frank L. McNamee group and the subsequent personnel overhauling now underway. Schroeder and Mulrooney both worked under Arthur W. Kelly, former UA executive vice-president in charge of the foreign department. Al Lowe has replaced Kelly, as previously disclosed. Washington, July 26. — The Federal Communications Commission today finally gave Zenith Radio Corp. permission to test its Phonevision system in the Chicago area during the 90-day period starting Oct. 1. The FCC had originally granted Zenith permission to test the system in some 300 Chicago homes during the 90 days starting Feb. 8. Zenith was not ready at that time, and asked that it be given a delay until the fall. Instead of granting the extension immediately, however, the Commission raised several questions as to whether Zenith's actions had been consistent with conditions laid down in the original test authorization or whether, in violation of those conditions, Zenith had misled the public into thinking Phonevision had been (Continued on page 2) MPAA Meets Today On TV Developments Television committee of the Motion Picture Association of America will convene here today for further discussions of video developments, including theatre TV, the effects on theatre business and television's future as it is likely to be influenced by the international crisis and increased defense costs. Edward Cheyfitz, member of the MPAA staff in Washington, arrived here yesterday for the session at which Theodore Black of Republic will preside. 20th Goes to 3 "Specials" Every Month Launching Plans Skouras Conceived a Year Ago Chicago, July 26. — Implementing plans set in motion one year ago, 20th Century-Fox will step up its schedule to three 'A' features per month starting next month. A. W. Smith, Jr., vice-president in charge of distribution, announced this today at the company's national sales convention at the Drake Hotel here. Looking ahead to the increased production and releasing schedule, production chief Darryl F. Zanuck "took a full year to virtually re-tool, increasing his staff of producers and augmenting his roster of stars, directors and writers," Smith said. Al Lichtman, vice-president, report (Continued on page 6) 20th 'Showmanship Packages 9 Added Fillip to Program Chicago, July 26. — Twentieth Century-Fox will supplement its regular product schedule with a program of "Showmanship Packages" in a "determined effort to provide exhibitors with ways and means of reaching and satisfying a much wider audience," A. W. Smith, vice-president in charge of distribution, reported today at the company's national sales meeting at the Drake Hotel here. Among the films placed in this category are "Holy Year, 1950," running (Continued on page 6) Technicolor Net Is Down, to $989,766 Net consolidated profit, after taxes,, of Technicolor, Inc., for the six months ended June 30, is estimated tobe $989,766, equivalent to $1.07 per share, which compares with $1,147,720, equivalent to $1.25 a share for the corresponding six months of 1949, reports Dr. Herbert T. Kalmus, president and general manager. The figures for the second quarter are diminished as compared with the first quarter or the corresponding quarter of last year for three reasons : First : Because of the interference (Continued on page 2)