Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1950)

Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, August 15, 1950 Cites 'Arsenal' Of UN Films Robbins Opens Week 's Meet Of NSS Managers Here The United Nations' "expanding arsenal of inspiring and informative films" available to motion picture theatres "should be used wherever possible on the targets of tyranny and intolerance," Theatre Owners of America executive director Gael Sullivan declares in a statement which will be published in an early issue of the U. N. Film Distributor, authorized U. N. publication. In his statement, Sullivan terms motion pictures "munitions for the mind —to battle racial bias — to fight for the faith of all freedom-lovers— to conquer class antagonisms." They can be of a "great help" in "the war on deprivation and the denial of human rights," Sullivan points out. Legion Leader (Continued from page 1) Hierarchial Committee said he realized anti-Communistic films usually have not been money makers. However, in the present temper of the public, it is more apt to be receptive to films with an anti-Communist theme, provided it is combined with an entertaining story skillfully told, Bishop Scully added. He said he did not know how to synthesize the two, motion pictures not being his primary field. The Bishop reported that the picture situation, from the Legion viewpoint, is "a little easier," principally because fewer foreign films have recently been imported. He pointed out that foreign make films are the ones which most often seriously deviate from Legion standards. Zanuck to Set (Continued from page 1) dent, stated earlier the company planned to make four top features here in the next 12 months. First was the just completed "Mudlark," starring Irene Dunne. Early next month, Louis D. Lighton will start "No Highway" at Denham, with Henry Koster directing. The remainder, Skouras said, would depend upon terms of the new remittance agreement. It is now reported that the company may widely extend the original schedule. In addition, announcements are expected momentarily from Paramount, which is. reported to plan four British productions, and M-G-M, which may make five here. Zanuck, Skouras Call On President Truman Washington, Aug. 14. — President Truman was given a fill-in this afternoon on the weekend conference of the Advisory Council to the Chief Signal Officer by Darryl F. Zanuck. A reserve colonel, Zanuck is a member of the Council. It was reported that Zanuck advanced several ideas during the conference for Hollywood cooperation with the Signal Corps in production of indoctrination films. Zanuck also told the President that 20th Century-Fox is preparing for early release a special short on the background of the Korean incident — apparently an "indoctrination" film for civilian America. Spyros Skouras was also here, but on a Greek War Relief mission. National Screen branch managers began a full week of home office meetings yesterday for the purpose of general business discussions with Herman Robbins, president ; George F. Dembow, sales vice-president, and William B. Brenner, vice-president in charge of operations. This is the second of three scheduled meetings of groups of managers with home office executives, the first of which was conducted during the week of July 10. The third is scheduled for the week of Aug. 21. In addition to business sessions, 'Vet' Film Promotion (Continued from page 1) American Veterans short subject, "On Stage, Everybody." The chairmen are : Albany, Danny Houlihan ; Atlanta, Fred Dodson ; Boston, Jim Connolly ; Buffalo, Dave Miller ; Charlotte, Al Duren ; Chicago, Tom Gilliam ; Cincinnati, J. S. Abrose ; Cleveland, Oscar Ruby ; Dallas, John Houlihan ; Denver, R. C. Hill; Des Moines, Jim Veldes; Detroit, W. D. Woods ; Indianapolis, G. R. Frank ; Kansas City, James W. Lewis ; Los Angeles, Jack O'Laughlin ; Memphis, Ed Williamson. Also, Milwaukee, John G. Kemptgen ; Minneapolis, William H. Workman ; New Haven, Arthur Greenfield ; New Orleans, C. James Bryant ; New York, Sam Diamond ; Oklahoma City, Ralph B. Williams ; Omaha, I. M. Weiner ; Philadelphia, William Mansell ; Pittsburgh, Saal Gottlieg ; Portland, Ralph Amacher ; St. Louis, Harry Haas ; Salt Lake City ; Gifford Davison ; San Francisco, Neal East ; Seattle, Sam S. Davis ; Tampa, Harold Larrd ; Republic ; Joseph Brecheen. Adm. Mclntyre Sponsors Private Showing of 'On Stage Everybody' Washington, Aug. 14. — Admiral Ross T. Mclntyre, chairman of the President's Committee for National "Employ the Physically Handicapped" week, last week presented the Disabled American Veterans' film, "On Stage Everybody," starring Bob Hope and "Fun on Wheels Revue" to a special conference here of 500 leaders of business, labor, government and private groups. Mclntyre commended the Association of Motion Picture Producers for performing "a major service" to this country in the production and distribution of the Paramount film, which tells the story of disabled veterans. Would Draft Rodgers (Continued from page 1) of the industry, we must make a concerted effort to settle all differences within the industry rather than without. They should be handled on a local level, and only as a last resort should they be submitted to a national arbitration board. Marcus pointed out that weaknesses in the past arbitration systems w.ere greatly due to the lack of experienced men who did not have a thorough knowledge and background of the field and suggested that a man such as Rodgers, vice-president and sales manager of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, should be drafted for this type of job. managers will be provided with a tour through American Display Corp., National Screen's screen plant, and a similar trip to the NSS lithographing facilities of Litho-Poster Corp. Managers attending the meetings are : Louis Pat, Kansas City ; Milton Feinberg, Des Moines ; Jay MacFarland, Minneapolis ; Irving Stacel, Chicago ; William Bein, Cincinnati ; Ivan Clavet, Detroit ; H. T. Liebtag, Indianapolis ; John Mednikow, Milwaukee ; H. A. Washburn, St. Louis ; F. W. "Doc" Allen, Dallas ; Gilbert Clark, Oklahoma City. New York Grosses (Continued from page 1) strong at Loew's State with close to $42,000 apparent for the first week. "Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion" is fair enough at the Criterion where $15,000 is likely for a first week. "Our Very Own" is holding up very well at the Victoria with a prosperous third week's take of $25,000 in view. "Edge of Doom," another contender for good money, promises an estimated $25,500 in its second week at the Astor. At the Paramount, "My Friend Irma Goes West," with Louis Prima's orchestra and the Modernaires on stage figures to provide the Paramount with an estimated $80,000 in a big second week. "Irma" will be replaced with "The Furies" on Aug. 16. "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye," with Toni Harper on stage, at the Strand, is continuing at a strong pace with about $46,000 apparent for the second week. "Panic in the Street," with Frances Langford and an ice revue on stage is likely to reach $75,000 in its second and final week at the Roxy, which is strong revenue. Next at the Roxy will be "Stella," with Milton Berle on stage, due on Friday. "Treasure Island" will open at the Mayfair today following seven weeks of "Destination Moon." The latter did about $12,000 in its final stanza, which is fair enough. "The Petty Girl" will bow in at the Capitol on Thursday, succeeding "A Lady Without Passport." Accompanied by Pearl Bailey and Jack Fina's orchestra among others on stage, "Passport" should do about $36,000, mild business, in its second and final week. 'Very Own' Is Scoring Heavily in Field Openings Samuel Goldwyn's "Our Very Own" is scoring the biggest opening day business of the year in several situations, the home office reports. The film raked in an estimated $3,500 at the Fulton, Pittsburgh, and $3,800 at the 20th Century in Buffalo, both on initial days. ■ 'Louisa' (Continued from page 1) the theatre in the premiere day, with Ronald Reagan, Charles Coburn, Ruth Hussey, Spring Byington and Piper Laurie, of the picture's cast, making personal appearances. Lines, four and six abreast, almost encircled a Loop block. The stars left here over the weekend on a tour of 26 cities. AT OI Convention Is Set for Nov. 13-14 Indianapolis, Aug. 14. — The Associated Theatre Owners of Indiana will hold it sannual fall convention at the Hotel Lincoln here on Nov. 13-14, Trueman T. Rembusch, ATOI president, announces. Compromise HJolves Wald-RKO Hitch Hollywood, Aug. 14. — As Jerry Wald and Norman Krasna officially began a five-year stay today at the RKO Radio studio, following a $50,000,000 production deal signed with Howard Hughes Saturday midnight, details of a compromise reached on autonomy for the new independent company were made known. The eight weeks of negotiation, which began when Hughes advanced Wald $150,000 to obtain a release from his contract with Warner, hit a stumbling block over the scope of independence to be granted Wald-Krasna, who will make 12 pictures a year for five years for RKO Radio release. Under terms of the pact now finalized, the producers will consult with Hughes on story properties and on pictures budgeted over $900,000. At that figure or below, Wald-Krasna will have a free hand. Split Profits 50-50 Financing is on a 60-40 basis, with Wald-Krasna, backed by Bankers Trust and the Mellos National Bank of Pittsburgh, supplying the greater figure and RKO the short end. Production will be at the RKO studio, with the producers and RKO to split profits on a 50-50 basis. The agreement came at the deadline agreed upon by both parties, last Saturday midnight, and climaxed a deal first rumored when Sid Rogell, former RKO production head, left the company. Instead of taking over the top production post, Wald joined forces with Krasna, with whom he had been associated in his pre-industry days as a newspaperman, and formed an independent producing unit. With RKO furnishing studio facilities, distribution and part of the financing, the new firm proposed to make a maximum of 12 films annually. This deal, considered advantageous to both RKO and Wald-Krasna, was agreed upon in broad outline at the start. The prolonged negotiations were primarily concerned with the delegation of authority and power between producer and distributor, and ended in a compromise satisfactory to both. Para/s 'Affair' May Premiere in Italy The Italian government has offered official support and cooperation for the world premiere of Hal Wallis' "September Affair" at the Sistina Theatre, Rome, on Sept. 14, Paramount disclosed here yesterday. Italian Minister Pietro Romani, High Commissioner for Tourists, will make a special broadcast in behalf of "September Affair," which was filmed in Italy. The world premiere will be attended by Prime Minister Alcide DeGasperi, high Minsters of the Italian Government and others.