Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1955)

Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, March 16, 1955 N. Y. Tax {Continued from page 1) a vote until the sponsor moves it and a debate, if asked, is held. Moritt, friend of the industry, commented, "I cannot understand why motion pictures should be picked out for additional taxes. It is not in condition to absorb them. It is unfair to propose payment by the industry of thousands of dollars more. I intend to oppose this bill vigorously. I don't think it will pass." License System Profitable Apparently, the proposal did not originate with the State Education Department, whose motion picture division would be affected. The state, which already nets a substantial sum yearly from the film license system, would receive additional income — the reason given for the measure. A companion bill, introduced by Assemblyman Leo P. Noonan, Republican, was referred to the Assembly education committee. Both acts would take effect July 1. Allied-TOA {Continued from page 1) ident, from an Arizona vacation. Shor had asked that the meeting be held up until after he completed his holiday, which will be in early April. TOA's recent call by its board of directors that the projected roundtable industry conference take up the issue of film rentals was pointed to as one strong area of mutual agreement, although it was acknowledged that this area covers the project of Allied's EDC. 'Man Called Peter' {Continued from page 1) religious, social, civic and business personages in attendance. The Samuel G. Engel production starring Richard Todd and Jean Peters will bow at the La Scala Theatre, Glasgow, amid a citywide celebration honoring the memory of Dr. Peter Marshall, who was born and spent his early years in Glasgow before coming to America to gain international prominence as Chaplain of the United States Senate. Ala. Theatre Receipts Off 4% in October ATLANTA, March 15.— Theatre receipts throughout Alabama for October, 1954, dipped four per cent in comparison with September, 1954, according to a University of Alabama Bureau of Business Research survey based on sales tax returns. The box office totals during October, however, were up 5.8 per cent in comparison with October, 1953, the survey revealed. CinemaScope Aids France An Art Theatre Winner 'ONE OF 10 BEST" — Nat. Board of Rev. GRAND PRIZE France, England, (fafy A Brandon Release For Bookings: UNION FILMS INC. 1501 Broadway, N. Y. BR 9-5793 {Continued from page 1) maScope presentation," the foreign film officials said, speaking through the interpreters, Duncan McGregor, Jr., and Lillian Gerard, president and vice-president, respectively, of the French Pathe American subsidiary organization. "First-run theatres in principal cities which are equipped for CinemaScope and magnetic sound, have amortized their costs after exhibiting the first CinemaScope films, such as 'The Robe'," Thevenot said in agreement with Nachbaur. Expect to Start May 16 The French exhibitors have come to the United States in connection with the introduction of Cinerama to France. They are converting a 1,700seat theatre in Paris, the Empire, to Cinerama and expect to begin exhibition of "This Is Cinerama" on May 16 at admission prices under $3. Thevenot and Nachbaur revealed plans for the construction of a new 2,000-seat theatre, the Pathe Wegler, costing about 230,000,000 francs, for Cinerama and CinemaScope presentation. "The Pathe Wegler will be completed in about a year with CinemaScope product being exhibited on the same screen as Cinerama," they said. It was learned here that a theatre needs two separate screens if CinemaScope and Cinerama were to be successfully projected. It is slightly possible to have one screen for both media, providing the Cinerama screen could be successfully bent to the CinemaScope curvature, but then a question of optics injects itself, according to the 20th Century-Fox research department. Commenting on television and its effect on theatre business, Thevenot and Nachbaur declared that "television is not widely seen throughout France and, therefore, theatres are not affected. However, television is helping theatres by exhibiting" trailers about films currently being exhibited." Pathe, which recently completed its first CinemaScope co-production oi "Fortune Carrie," is interested in distributing American product in France, North Africa and Belgium, Thevenot and Nachbaur said. "Pathe produces about 10 films per year, one-tenth of the over-all 1954 production statistics," the film men said. The average French production costs about $300,000 and a producer can recover his costs in France alone, but he mainly depends on the foreign market to make a profit, Thevenot and Nachbaur said. "The most profitable market for French producers now is Germany," they said. Commenting on exhibition as a whole, Thevenot and Nachbaur said that "there are no double bills in France ; a picture is booked for one full week; 20 per cent of the pictures exhibited are restricted by the government for audiences above 16 years old ; admission prices range from 50 cents in the provinces to $1.50 in cities, and the government collects its 33 per cent tax on admissions each day." U. S. Films Second In French Grosses American films in France are second best in total box office grosses, according to Jean Thevenot, general manager of Societe Nouvelle Pathe Theatres, and Lucien Nachbaur, managing director of the Pathe circuit, which comprises 30 theatres throughout the country. While not revealing what the total box office was, the French film officials said that in 1953 French film earnings were 48 per cent of the total, American films 35 per cent, English four per cent, Italian eight per cent, with the balance going to other countries. U.S. Advantage Maintained In 1954, French films earned 49 per cent of the total box office, American films 34 per cent, English four per cent, Italian six-and-one-half per cent and the balance to other countries, they said. The jump during 1954 in French grosses were attributed by Thevenot and Nachbaur to the picture "Versailles" which grossed about $6,000,OQ0. 50% of Space Sold For SMPTE Meet CHICAGO, March 15.— Brochures on the seventy-seventh semi-annual convention of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers have been out for only a week and already 50 per cent of the space has been reserved by various manufacturers in the industry. The convention is to be held at the Drake Hotel here on April 18-22. James L. Wassell, regional manager of motion picture film sales for Ansco, who is chairman of the local arrangements committee, said this is the first time exhibit space has so rapidly been reserved. The indications are that there will be at least 500 registrations. Among the companies to be represented at the convention this year will be Bell & Howell, Precision Laboratory, New York; Westrex, Kling, New York; Camera Equipment Co., New York; Pathe Laboratory, from the East coast ; Houston-Fearless, from the West coast ; Motion Picture Printing & Equipment Co., Chicago ; S.O.S., New York. Thus far 50 papers have been sub Italians Here Today For Museum Honors Goffredo Lombardo, Jr., and Alberto Lattuada will arrive in New York today to be honored on Monday at the opening of the Museum of Modern Art Film. Library's "Fifty Years of Italian Cinema," a retrospective program celebrating the 50th anniversary of Italian film production as well as the Museum's 25th anniversary. Lombardo was selected as a representative of the Italian industry because he is president of the Italian Film Producers Association and Italy's oldest film studio, Titanus Films of Rome, while Lattuada is the co-founder of Italy's film library, Cineteca, and a leading screen director. mitted for the program sessions, which Wassell announced is 22 per cent ahead of last year's schedule. The Society last held its convention in Chicago in 1952. Another 1955 fall convention will be held at Lake Placid, New York. 4-Year Statute of Limitations Bill Now Has Full Approval WASHINGTON, March 15.— The full House Judiciary Committee approved a bill providing a uniform four-year Federal statute of limitations for private treble damage antitrust suits. At the same time, a strong movement was revealed in the committee for legislation to give Federal judges authority to award less than treble damages in these suits. Rep. Walter (D., Pa.) led a drive to add such a provision as an amendment to the statute of limitations bill. Walter later introduced in the House a separate bill to give judges discretion to award less than treble damages in these anti-trust suits. After much discussion, it was agreed the discretionary damage feature would not be pressed as an amendment to this bill but that there would be separate hearings on the discretionary damages proposition later in the session. Two Hot Issues Both the uniform statute of limitations and the discretionary damages issue have been hot ones in the film industry. Exhibitors have urged a five or six-year Federal statute and mandatory treble damages, as at present, while distributors have urged a twoi or three-year statute and discretionary damages. At present the time limit for treble damage suits is set by state law, ranging from one to 20 years. The average is around four years. A four-year statute of limitations and discretionary damages are reportedly recommended in the forthcoming report of an anti-trust study committee set up by the Attorney General. The four-year statute is actually itself an amendment to a bill giving the Government power to sue for actual damages. The new statute would go into effect six months after the bill becomes law. Second Bill Blocked Meanwhile, Rep. Patman (D., Tex. ) blocked House approval of another bill to boost from $5,000 to $50,000 the maximum anti-trust fine. He argued that the fine should be increased even more and that mandatory jail sentences should be added. The bill was being considered under a procedure requiring unanimous consent, so Patman's objection forced postponement of action. Judiciary committee chairman Celler (D., NY.) said he would bring the bill up soon under another procedure requiring a House vote on the measure. N. J. Allied {Continued from page 1) leaders who were guests of the New Jersey unit at a luncheon in the StacyTrent Hotel. Snaper said that while toll TV was not discussed formally, one Assemblyman expressed the opinion that he was opposed to a practice of charging a fee for "free air." Hackett VC Guest Buddy Hackett will be the. special guest of the Variety Club of New York at its second luncheon meeting of 1955, to be held at Toots Shor's on March 29.