Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1951)

4 Motion Picture Daily Friday, January 26, 1951 Poll (Continued from page 1) drawn from the industry, outside the industry, or made up of a board of three, including a distributor, an exhibitor and an outsider; and if they preferred the exclusive or partial use of industry arbitrators, what persons could they suggest as most competent to fill these posts. More circuit operators than independents showed themselves to be in favor of arbitration but the difference was of no special significance with 86.7 per cent of the independents and 91.2 per cent of the circuits making up the combined average of 89.1 per cent supporting out-of-court settlements. "Independents voted the clearance problem to be uppermost in the minds of 76.6 per cent of them ; runs were next with 66.6 per cent ; bidding rated as the third most important problem with 43.3 per cent; and "other" issues constitutes 23.3 per cent of independent exhibitor headaches," according to the Herald's findings. British Gov't Production (Continued from page 1) Rawstock, Golden (Continued from page 1 ) industry." Toward that end, Golden said he would set up in his division a section devoted primarily to conservation, standardization and simplification procedures. "The industry itself can contribute greatly to the avoidance of any critical situation in film supplies by exercising the utmost care in film usage and handling," he told the meeting. The activity of the section Golden plans would apply to film usage by governmental agencies as well as that involved in the civilian economy. Golden told the group, which met with him at the Motion Picture Association of America office here. Golden referred to an announcement earlier this week by DuPont notifying its customers that it was curtailingorders by 25 per cent. DuPont took the action, it was explained, as a result of commitments to produce an increased supply of X-ray film. Hit hardest by this cutback would be the newsreels and small laboratories. Those Present Present at the meeting, which was held under the chairmanship of Paul Raibourn, vice-president of Paramount, were: Ellis G. Arnall, president of the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers; William Brennan, Columbia; W. D. Kelly, Loew's ; Bernard Goodman, Frank Cahill and Joseph Spray, Warner Brothers ; Alan Friedman, DeLuxe Laboratories ; Harry Mersay, 20th Fox; Emment Cashman and E. J Smith, RKO ; Tom Murray, Univer sal ; William Brenner, National Screen; Carroll Puciato, Realart Norton V. Ritchey and Edward Morey, Monogram ; Nick Tronolone, Pathe Laboratories ; Frank LeGrand, Paramount Laboratories ; Robert Hilton, United Atrists ; Theodore Black Republic ; Norman Oakley and J. H Kurtz, DuPont; William German, Brulatour, and Arthur L. Mayer, executive vice-president of the Council of Motion Picture Organizations. On hand from the MP A A were Fred W. DuVall, Sidney Schreiber and Jack McCullough. there will be an undefined amount of "supervision" over the productions by NFFC. One production panel will consist of 10 producers nominated by J. Arthur Rank which will operate at Pinewood studio ; another will consist of up to six producers nominated by Associated British Pictures Corp. operating at Elstree studio, and a third will include an as yet undetermined number of novice producers which will work at the single-staged Southall studio, hitherto used by documentary producers under John Grierson. The producers nominated to the. panels have each been given one year contracts, subject to termination thereafter by either side on three months notice. " Salaries will average £5,000 yearly. Rank and ABPC will undertake_ to give all approved projects distribution guarantees up to 70 per cent of estimated budgets. The remaining 30 per cent will be provided by NFFC in cash, with completion guarantee arranged jointly by the distributor and NFFC. Lawrie revealed that he will also, in conjunction with distributors, negotiate bank discounting of the distribution guarantees. Individual producers are to receive 25 per cent of the first £50,000 profit of a picture; 10 per cent of the second £50,000, and five per cent thereafter. Lawrie evaded replying to a question of who meets any losses which might be incurred. He said that NFFC and the distributor will jointly control expenditures at all stages of production, in addition to approval of scripts and budgets. It was clear, however, that in the ultimate resort such control would be exercised by Lawrie. It was disclosed that at the end of 1950, NFFC loans amounted to £5,380,000, on which £385,000 has been repaid. An additional £200,000 is expected to be repaid within the next six months. NFFC's present capital is around £1,200,000, of which Lawrie estimates £700,000 will go to the three new production groups and the remaining £500,000 to other projects which may develop in line with the original financing purposes of NFFC. The official handout stated "these amounts could see us through an important experiment of ordered finance and supervision," but under questioning Lawrie admitted that the capital might possibly be exhausted in six months. He added that in such an eventuality the government would have the responsibility of deciding whether to ask Parliament to vote additional public money. Lawrie estimated that the Rank group of producers will make six pictures this year under the scheme, with an additional but uncertain number of pictures to come from the ABPC group. He emphasized that both Rank and ABPC will make other pictures with their own and other resources in the course of the year. The output of the third producers panel also is momentarily uncertain, nor was it disclosed whether its pictures will be second or first features. Lawrie declined to say whether that group would be regarded as self-supporting or just production trainees. Miami Parade Set For 4Gun' Premiere Miami, Jan. 25. — Thousands of vacationists are expected to line this city's Flagler Street tomorrow morning to witness a parade that will climax Universal-International's world premiere campaign for "Under the Gun." The film will open tomorrow at the Carib, Miami Beach, and the Miracle, Coral Gables. Johnston Hits (Continued from page 1) The press handout stated that the project is not a revolutionary one but rather, a logical development of the previous efforts to sustain Britain's declining production industry. It claimed to be aimed at simplification of the production process, thereby removing "anxiety and distraction" from the producer, making for efficiency and economy and more artistic freedom. The operation also was described as an "important experiment in ordered finance and supervision." Lawrie emphasized repeatedly that the scheme does not bar responsible independent producers from coming to him with worthwhile projects for NFFC help. While the legal formalities involved in the scheme are still incomplete, it was regarded as significant that Lawrie said the first film to be made under the new project will be Paul Soskin's "I Spy Strangers," which is already shooting. Sir Michael Balcon is technical adviser for the entire project, as well as chairman of the producer panel nominated by Rank. However, Balcon will continue his own considerable production activity at Ealing studio as an independent producer. Also, announcement was made that John Christopher Smuts, attorney and former military governor of Trieste, has been made assistant to Lawrie and secretary to the NFFC board. dent, and Rise Stevens, Metropolitan Opera singer. Louis Nizer, industry attorney, presided at the dinner which launched the industry's 1951 "Brotherhood" campaign. Striking out at intolerance, Johnston declared that, "show business understands the high cost of bigotry, and the people in show business will be the first to understand when I say that our very survival today depends on cutting down the high cost of bigotry." Citing the industry as a worthy example, he asserted that it "has never held a man's nativity against him; or the color of his skin ; or the way he knots his tie— or the religious faith he follows. Skill and talent are what counts." He continued that "show business has held out equal opportunity and practiced social justice among all men. . . ." The industry learned longago "that it couldn't afford to do otherwise," he declared. Reynaud, who arrived in the U. S. on Wednesday, spoke on the present "state of mind of the free nations of Western Europe." He is here for a special five-week mission for the NCCJ which will take him to 20 cities. Others invited to the dais last night were : Barney Balaban, Spyros Skouras, Ned Depinet, Nicholas M. Schenck, Nate Blumberg, Harry M. Warner, Harry Cohn, Herbert J. Yates, Gradwell L. Sears, Sterling Brown, of the NCCJ, Si Fabian, Bernard Goodman, Will Hays, Robert Mochrie, Francois Puax, French Con.ul General, Martin Quigley, Jr., Edmund Reek, Charles Reagan, Henderson Ritchy, Sam Rinzler, Herman Robbins, Sam Rosen, J. Robert Rubin, James Sauter, A. W. Schwalberg, Max E. Youngstein, Sol Schwartz, George Skouras, Jerry Pickman, Robert Merrill and James Jerauld. Gallup, Schuyler (Continued from page 1 ) cuit's general manager. Schuyler has been general manager for seven years, while Gallup has been at the helm of the circuit for some 37 years. On the same date, L. J. Jacobs of Escanaba will retire as manager of the Delft and Michigan theatres in that city, but will continue as corporate secretary. Kenneth Vohs, presently assistant to Jacobs, will take over the management of the two Escanaba houses. 'Cyrano' Holdovers (Continued from page 1) Francisco and Washington. In New York, the film goes into its 11th week; in Los Angeles, into its 10th ; and Miami Beach, its 7th. Memphis and Detroit will open within two weeks. "We are booking the picture into many other sections of the country on a two-a-day reserved seat basis, with 20 to 25 more openings planned for the next six weeks," stated Schaefer. Circus P. A. to Para. Frank Braden, circus press agent, has been appointed by Max E. Youngstein, Paramount advertising-publicity vice-president, to the post of special publicity representative for "The Greatest Show on Earth." RKO Package Deal (Continued from page 1 ) ager of WNBC and WNBT. "This marks the first time a major theater circuit in the New York metropolitan area has entered into such a contract, and, it is expected Young Presents NCCJ Award To University of Miami Miami, Jan. 25. — Robert R. Young, on behalf of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, today presented a citation to the University of Miami in recognition of its School of Human Relations. Introduced by Dr. Everett Clinchy, president of the NCCJ, Young made the presentation to George C. Estill, vice-chairman of the board of trustees of the University. to set a precedent for the theatre and motion picture industry," RKO Theatres stated. Through the combined mediums of TV and radio, RKO Theatres plan to, advertise and publicize their feature attractions and also their "Let's Go Out to the Movies" campaign. The contract contains options permitting RKO to continue the arrangement beyond the initial 13 weeks.