Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1955)

Monday, March 14, 1955 Motion Picture daily 7 Foreign Films Score Heavily in Japan; Curbs Start in April Special to THE DAILY TOKYO, March 7 (By Air Mail). — Further controls on the importation and exhibition here of American and European films will be initiated shortly by the Finance Ministry of Japan. The measures are being taken "as a means of saving on the nation's foreign currency reserves" and are scheduled to start in April, the beginning of the 1955 fiscal year. Importation of films will be cut by at least 20 per cent and there will be a cut in the allocations of foreign currency which American and European film companies are allowed to transmit abroad in addition to "limitation of the income of foreign film companies." 141 of 200 from U.S. During 1954 some 200 films were imported into Japan of which 141 were from America, and some $5,500,000 was allowed to be transmitted abroad by the film companies, with the rest of the profits being frozen in Japan (now totalling over $8,000,000). It is expected that the limitation of incomes of American and European film companies will include fixing a ceiling for their film distribution charges as well as curbing the number of prints and the period of showings. The Ministry insists such measures are necessary, as imported films are now receiving more than 70 per cent of the income derived from performances, and sometimes as much as 80 per cent, while Japanese pictures get a much smaller percentage. Expect No Change in Wage Law Coverage From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, March 13.— The Eisenhower Administration has decided to soft-pedal its previouslyannounced drive for broader coverage of the Federal Minimum Wage Law. Instead, the Administration will concentrate on trying to get Congress to boost the minimum payment for workers already covered. This will be good, news for small exhibitors, since theatres are now exempt from the law and would be one of the targets of a drive to expand coverage. Earlier this year, President Eisenhower and Labor Secretary Mitchell urged Congress to boost the minimum wage and also to expand coverage This will still be the public program of the Administration, and Mitche will probably testify to this effect when hearings are ultimately held be fore the House or Senate labor com mittees. But the Administration will work behind the scenes only for the higher minimum and not for expanded coverage. This means it is very unlikely that Congress this year will enlarge on minimum wage coverage. There never was any great enthusiasm on Capitol Hill for expanded coverage, and the only chance the proposal had was if the Administration kept push ing for it. 'Plain* Bow Set "The Purple Plain" will have its American premiere at the Chicago Theatre in Chicago on March 25. McGee and Allied, on Compo (Continued from page 1) Allied's board of directors adopted and released a resolution deploring the appropriation and misuse of the name COMPO by any group or individual seeking to form a regional exhibitor organization to function outside the public relations field to which National COMPO is restricted. "This action was based upon a form etter bearing the name of Pat McGee which had been circulated among exhibitors in the Rocky Mountain area. The letter solicits memberships in Rocky Mountain Council of Motion Picture Organizations. In the body of the letter this is shortened to COMPO. One paragraph reads as follows : 'We have been in contact with film company sales managers who express confidence in me personally to the point that they promise to review any unhappy sales contract for any exhibitor if I think he needs aid. This is your avenue to go beyond branch and Division if you are not happy with your present treatment.' "This project is at war with the principles on which COMPO was founded. Those who spent the time and effort to create COMPO (as distinguished from those who now fatten on it), were careful to provide that that organization should not invade the field or usurp the functions of the established exhibitor organizations. "Following the enumeration of its purposes, COMPO's by-laws (Art. I, Sec. 3) contains the following proviso : 'Nothing in the foregoing shall be considered to authorize the Council to represent the members in matters pertaining to the licensing of motion picture film or to trade practices.' "The Allied resolution not only deplored the abuse of the name COMPO1 by McGee but it also requested Allied's representative on the triumvirate to initiate action in COMPO to terminate the misuse of its name. What, if any, action has been taken by the triumvirate in response to the resolution is not known. Those who objected to COMPO's participation in the toll-TV fight, or to COMPO's sponsoring a top level conference on the state of the industry, if they want to keep the jewels of consistency bright, had better take note of what is now going on in Denver. "Following the release of Allied's resolution a letter was received from Kyle Rorex, executive director of Texas COMPO enclosing a release which he had issued. To our amazement, this began as follows : 'Answering National Allied charges that the COMPO name had been misused by State and Regional units, Col. H. A. Cole . . . stated today that Texas COMPO has established an enviable record . . .' "Allied wrote Rorex an explanation of the reasons for and limitations upon the resolution, pointing out that when, he charged Allied with attacking state and regional units he overshot the mark. Allied further informed Rorex that : 'Col. Cole was present when the matter was discussed and he pointed out the difference between the COMPO under discussion and Texas COMPO. He was present when the resolution was adopted and made no objection to it. Certainly he did not think there was any reflection on Texas COMPO and it is surprising, to say the least, to find him issuing a statement, "Answering National Allied." ' "Rorex did not acknowledge the letter and he did not alter his release. As a Result, Allied Tias been embarrassed" by trade paper stories indicating a split between it and one of its most distinguished leaders. Except for this, and the fact that Rorex dragged in Texas COMPO when the resolution did not apply to it, the Rorex incident is unimportant." In the THEATRE Equipment A itefreshm c»« t World . . . 9 • with RAY GALLO Italy Film Earnings Increased in Jan. Box office earnings for first-run films in 15 key Italian cities during January, 1955, totaled 1,879,000,000 lire as compared to 1,480,000,000 lire earned in January, 1954, it was revealed here at the weekend by Italian Films Export, which released the findings of a recent analysis. Of the total film grosses reported in Italy, Italian films earned 40.10 per cent of the receipts, which represented a huge jump over the 1954 period, when Italian pictures grossed on 28.98 per cent of the total earnings in January, the report showed. The high earnings of Italian pictures in January of this year were mainly due to a few black-and-white films which were presented in competition with American CinemaScope and Technicolor product, IFE said. The biggest film grossers among the first-run films in Italy for last January were American pictures which earned 50.78 per cent of the total receipts, a drop from the 63.79 per cent figure of January, 1954, the 1 report said. French films, including Italy Lifts Color Print Prohibition The Italian government has officially lifted its ban on the import of color prints, the Motion Picture Export Association was informed here at the weekend. The ban, which caused a log-jam in the release of American product in Italy soon after it was imposed at the beginning of the year, was finally lifted after a series of negotiations. Griffith Johnson, vice-president of the Motion Picture Export Association, who took an active role in the negotiations, is due here from Italy today to render a detailed report at the next MPEA board meeting. In the meantime, the Italian government has agreed upon the method of individal negotiations with each American company on the issue oi processing color prints other than Technicolor in Italy. Italo-French co-productions, earned 7.04 per cent, English films grossed 1.62 per cent and others earned 0.46 per cent of the total first-run grosses in Italy, the analysis revealed. "CUPERAMA" is the name of a ^ new seamless projection screen with a silver surface announced by the Radiant Mfg. Corp., Chicago. The screen is electronically welded into one uniform surface through a controlled thermal process, whereby no seams can be detected in the fabric, according to the manufacturer. The fabric is packed for shipment in wooden crates, fully protected, on a special 5-in. aluminum roller, with an elevating sling and erecting platform. The screens are also available in "SuperWhite" matte white surface at a lower cost than , the "SuperFleet" silver surface. • Lawrence Metal Products, Inc., makers of lobby posts and velour ropes for theatres, has moved to a newly constructed, one-story building at 60 Prospect Avenue, at Merrick Road, Lynbrook, N. Y. Benjamin Lawrence, president, said that the move was made without the loss of any of its factory or office personnel. The company also makes sand runs, smokers and railings of chrome, brass, aluminum and stainless steel. • Paul R. "Pete" Wentworth has been named media buyer for the Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, N. Y '., according to an announcement from W. B. Potter, director of advertising. Wentzvorth will be in charge of market and media selection for Kodak advertising in trade papers, neivspapers, general magazines and television. • Activeaire Devices, Inc., New York, has a new portable "conditioner" to humidify, heat or cool the air in a small area, such as the box-office. It is designed to create a comfort zone approximately 10 feet around the unit. Completely portable and compact in size, it may be used anywhere that an outlet is available. It is finished in gray hammertone. • Hollis D. Bradbury has been named manager, RCA Film-Recording Equipment, according to an announcement from J. F. O'Brien, manager, Theatre and Industrial Equipment Marketing, Engineering Products Division, RCA. Bradbury succeeds Ralph A. Teare, who recently was advanced to manager. RCA Industrial Products. Bradbury will coordinate all planning, promotion and sales activities for RCA film-record equipment designed for use by motion picture studios and will supervise operation of RCA's motion picture recording studios in New York and Hollywood. • Electric pizza ovens made by the Harvic Supply Corp., have been approved by Undcriwitcr's Laboratory, making them the first ovens devoted to baking pizza exclusively to receive such approval, says the company.