Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1951)

Friday, November 2, 1951 Motion Picture Daily 3 Honored by Allied Adolph Zukor Trueman Rembusch Allied Banquet {Continued from page 1) the 18th annual Allied convention which began on Tuesday followingtwo days of organization board meetings. An estimated 500 delegates, wives and guests witnessed the presentations. Zukor was honored for his years of distinguished service to the industry, O'Donnell and Cole for their work on "Movietime," and Rembusch for his contributions to exhibitors' information in the field of electronics. Rodgers Faces Up to Allied {Continued from page 1) Sees Mexican Film Industry Collapse Mexico City, Nov. 1.— The Mexican motion picture industry faces collapse, Eduardo Vidal Cruz, manager of the trade's own bank — the Banco Nacional Cinematografico — asserted in a press interview here. Among the reasons he gave for this prediction was excessive production, which he say causes more than half the films produced to be stored, thereby yielding no prompt return on investment. The hurriedly-made, inferior films, he declared, as well as those that "openly offend social morals to the point of closing foreign markets to them," is another problem. He also mentioned "a marked invasion of foreign pictures which offer unfair competition." A financial reason given was that while the Bank has a nominal capital of $4,004,000, it only has $462,000 available yearly to finance a third of the pictures made in Mexico. Company Heads Had Low Allied 'Hooper' If company presidents and other top home office executives happened to hear some of the remarks made yesterday about their appearance at the Allied States convention luncheon on Tuesday, they might think twice before accepting an invitation to another. For example: Jack Kirsch, Chicago: "All the company presidents said was a word of encouragement. It wasn't worth taking up the time of 500 exhibitors." In similar vein from Ted Mann, Minneapolis, and others. tions, directed at Rodgers : Just what is a pre-release engagement? Exactly what autonomy is vested in M-G-M branches? When previews are held, just when does clearance on the previewed pictures start and how many pictures are theatres getting the previews allowed to exhibit in a single day? When prints are delayed 14 to 30 days after availability, does not the contract involved become meaningless and shouldn't the price of the picture be reduced to compensate for the delay ? The question included another : Just who is to blame for the print shortage? What can exhibitors do to counteract the "evasiveness" of distribution executives who decline to face exhibition's problems. Can we do anything other than go "hat in hand" seeking adjustments? As Snaper finished, Ted Mann of Minneapolis interposed: "All that should have been asked yesterday when the other sales managers were here. You're talking to four walls today." With evident sarcasm, he added: "I compliment the board on the job done yesterday." Snaper remarked, in reply, that the sales executives of the other companies had given definite assurances that they will take action on all complaints of merit. Rodgers confessed frankly that he couldn't define a "pre-release." M-G-M uses them occasionally, he said, to determine the best policy and treatment for marketing and exploiting outstanding productions. In doing so, it tries to select cities in which the pre-release will affect clearance the least. He reiterated that "Quo Vadis" will be a pre-release, "because it's a $7,000,000 investment" and that is the best way to "find out how to play it." The policy will be used in territories where M-G-M can get the greatest revenue, he said. On local autonomy, Rodgers related that M-G-M sales managers visit every company branch at least once yearly and consult with branch managers and some of the salesmen, reviewing every theatre situation to determine whether "fair deals" are being negotiated. The branch managers have the right, Rodgers said, to change the terms, make adjustments or do anything else called for by the circumstances, "and if they tell you they haven't that right, they're not telling the truth and you can tell them so with my compliments." On prints, Rodgers reiterated M-G-M is using more now than at any time in its history. The blame for the shortage, he said, lies with the law, which places the burden of proof of fair clearance on the distributor. The distributor is "in trouble" any time an exhibitor thinks his clearance is unfair. Therefore, more and more theatres demand and get the same run. M-G-M, he said, is making a continuing effort to establish fair clearances. "I can't tell you how many pictures a day a theatre should run," Rodgers said. "Some of our pictures are not as good as others." M-G-M does not want the exhibitor to come into its offices "hat in hand" with any grievance or for adjust Says MGM Had 500 Bidding Situations M-G-M has had 500 situations in which it conducted competitive bidding, W. F. Rodgers, distribution vicepresident, told the Allied States convention yesterday. The number was reduced by 40 in the past 30 days and the effort to continue the reduction is continuing, he said, but reminded that the government decree forces some bidding. ments. "Our doors are open. We're partners with you. We will adjudicate any just complaint." William Carroll of Indiana asked whether Rodgers had examined the ratio of MGM's prints today to the number of accounts' being served. Rodgers replied he had and that "MGM now is serving fewer accounts than it did five years ago, on an average." Joseph Fineran of Franklin, Ind., wanted to know how the Capitol Theatre, New York, could play "Quo Vadis" at "regular admission prices" if, as seemed to be the case, other theatres around the country which buy the picture will have to raise their prices for it. Rodgers conceded that the Capitol's price for continuous run will be less than the Astor's, where "Quo Vadis" will play simultaneously on a twoa-day basis. Those tests, he said, will determine whether it is best to play the picture on a reserved seat or continuous policy. Six other Loew's theatres in different parts of the country will play the picture on different policies as part of the tests, he said. After stating that he was sure the Capitol would not maintain its established prices for the "Quo Vadis" engagement, Rodgers apparently sent out for confirmation and later told the convention that theatre's price policy would be a boost from 55 to 90 cents weekday morning; from 90 cents to $1.25 afternoons; from $1.25 to $1.50 evenings, and to $1.80 nights. The Saturday-Sunday scales will range from $1.25 to $1.80, compared with a standard $1.00 to $1.50. On distributor assistance to distressed theatres, Rodgers reminded the convention that he already had promised to do "anything I can" to help keep a theatre open. "I have said it before and I say it again." He invited exhibitors to forward any complaints concerning Wilmark checkers on M-G-M engagements to Allied officials or to himself and, asserting that there had been very few such complaints, promised that they would be taken care of if they had merit. Use of the Wilmark service is "no economy," he said. "We simply think it's a more dignified way of doing business." J. B. Fishman of New Haven wanted to know if M-G-M wasn't inclined to favor its old customers. "I was until the government said we couldn't," Rodgers replied. Snaper Cites Allied'Power' Members of Allied who are given to complaining about trade practice difficulties without taking the trouble to seek corrective action by their region a 1 s or the national organization were roundly scolded yesterday by Wilbur Snaper, president of New Jersey Allied and coordinator in New York of the Allied Film Committee. Snaper delivered his chastising remarks at the final session of the three-day Allied convention at the Hotel Biltmore here. He served as convention chairman. "Don't just beef and then wonder why you're still suffering," he told the assembled delegates. "Use _ the tremendous power Allied has ; it is proven power, effective power." The convention paid tribute to Snaper for his handling of the convention arrangements in a resolution which was voted unanimously. It read: "Be it resolved by this convention that the sincere thanks and appreciation are accorded the New Jersey organization for the handling of this convention, specifically our general chairman, Wilbur Snaper ; the convention manager, August Bacolini, and the secretary, Salli Fisher." Wijbur Snaper Dieterle Signs 6 -Year Contract With Col. Hollywood, Nov. 1. — William Dieterle was signed to a long term director-producer contract by Columbia Pictures, calling for four pictures over a period of six years, it was announced here today by the studio. The deal was handled by an agent for Dieterle, Mike Levee. Actor at Conventions Hollywood, Nov. 1. — Barry Sullivan, M-G-M star, will represent the industry at two conventions next week. On Nov. 5 and 6 he will attend the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of St. Louis, Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois' convention at the Chase Hotel in St. Louis. On Nov. 7, he will go to Kansas City to appear at the convention of the KansasMissouri Theatre Owners. Novins to Talk in Boston Boston, Nov. 1. — Louis A. Novins, executive assistant to Barney Balaban, president of Paramount Pictures, in New York, will discuss "The Maciver Report" at the annual meeting of the New England regional board of the Anti-Defamation League at the Hotel Somerset in Boston Sunday afternoon. To Make TV Product Hollywood, Nov. 1. — Irving_ Allen, producer and Cubby Broccoli, formerly with Famous Artists Agency, have organized Warwick Film Productions, Inc., to produce at Motion Picture Center, two series of television films.