Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1960)

g Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, March 8, IT, Columbia, S.G. TV Suit is Postponed Trial in the Department of Justice suit against Universal Pictures, Columbia Pictures and Screen Gems, originally set to start in New York Federal Court yesterday, has been postponed to next week. Judge William B. Herlands will hear the case which charges retraint of competition in the sale of film to TV through the deal whereby Screen Gems acquired distribution of over 600 pre-1948 Universal pictures for 14 years. AMPP Attitude IA 's Demands (Continued from page 1) meetings scheduled and no invitation to meet with the Federal Mediation Service, as indicated by SAG's willingness in a earlier report to use that agency. Boren also made the following comments in answer to questions by press: "The future of the motion picture industry revolves around the staff, facilities and means provided by major companies. It would be terrible if the method of production and distribution were to change. "'We are leaving the door wide open for European countries to become the main source of our product, curtailing our opportunity to portray Democracy and the American way of life throughout the world. "Paying twice for a piece of work is contrary to all economic principles. "We are against residual payments of all kinds— we are willing to negotiate on everything except post1948 and post1960 pictures which may be sold to television. "If pay-TV is successful, it will merelv mean an extension of the box office. Many theatres will be eliminated as a result of pav-TV, and free TV has already shown its effect. "Sale of pre-1948 films to TV was instrumental in breathing health into the industry and provided funds for more production. It takes all our revenue to produce pictures, and the profitable ones have to make up for the ones that lose. Therefore, no deal! "We are willing to have our actuaries work out a health, welfare and pension fund which would be equivalent to those now being enjoyed by other guilds and unions." "Every issue can be resolved by hard bargaining, except 'second payments' for post-1948 pictures," Boren concluded. Levine Plans Wide-Scale U.K. 'Hercules' Drive From THE DAILY Bureau LONDON, March 7.-Embassy Pictures' "Hercules Unchained" will be launched in the United Kingdom with a saturation booking and lavish promotion similar to that used by Joseph Levine for his pictures in the U.S., the producer announced here today. He has been here for discussions with (Continued from page 1) both companies by Warners and Columbia respectively. Terms of the IATSE agreements were reported identical on die "double j't'icentages demand as well as stipulations that die films could not be released to television earlier than five years from the date of their first theatrical release, and diat contracts can be reopened in the event the films are sold or released to pay-TV. If no agreement is reached on amount to be paid for pay-TV, then die employer will be obliged to similarly pay twice the total amount paid to all other guilds and unions. Has 'Favored Nation' Clause The IATSE contract also contains a "favored nations" clause similar to those being made widi die Screen Actors Guild: in event more favorable terms are granted to employers in a general settlement of television issues, this would supersede the present agreements. Universal-International, first of the majors to sign with the writers and actors guilds, were advised by IATSE that it wished to reopen its contract negotiations as soon as possible; but U-I can observe its agreement, made with all other majors, which gives it protection against any strike action for 180 days without breaching its contract. The move by the IATSE was regarded as an unfriendly action toward SAG's position, viewing it as a stumbling block toward further negotiations. SAG Calls Meeting Widi its membership out on strike as of 12:01 A.M. today die SAG has called a membership mass meeting for next Sunday night at the Hollywood Palladium. Purpose of the meeting, the Guild said, will be to bring its membership "up to date on the many developments since the Guild voted overwhelmingly to authorize the board to call a strike should it become necessary to obtain an equitable collective bargaining contract." The SAG board revealed yesterday that it had rejected on Sunday afternoon by unanimous vote a last-minute request from the major studios for a moratorium from the strike deadline. The majors had proposed that die actors complete films now in progress. The Guild said it replied that "a strike is a strike and the major company presidents are responsible for it; dierefore no moratorium can be given." Asked Federal Mediation The SAG board also voted yesterday to ask die Federal Mediation Service to help settle the dispute and said that no plans had been made to picket die studios. executives of the Associated British Circuit. Levine will return to New York tomorrow and then come back to London within three weeks to set up the final distribution scheme for the film. JVJ. Sees Enough Film To Last Thru September From THE DAILY Bureau LOS ANGELES, March 7. — A spokesman for National Theatres & Television, Inc., commenting on the strike called by the Screen Actors Guild, today said: "We intend to take every measure to continue to operate our theatres on die same high standards we have always maintained and which the public has long expected of our circuit. "The distributors have issued assurances that exhibitors will have enough product on hand to last through September. We will be able to make necessary adjustments in our booking policy to keep our theatres operating. "We sincerely hope the dispute between producers and actors will be resolved before it jeopardizes the jobs of thousands in all branches of die film industry as well as related fields." Minimum Pv AFL-CIO Group Backs Actors in Strike From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, March 7. The California Labor Federation, AFLCIO, at the weekend telegraphed its support of the Screen Actors Guild in its strike against the major studios which began today. The Federation said it had "unanimously voted complete moral and financial support" to the Guild in its dispute with the producers. It assured SAG that "organized workers up and down this state are all deeply appreciative of die tremendous contribution your organization has made through the American labor movement for the betterment of the conditions of life and labor of all workers." Assembly Unit (Continued from page 1) fees collected by the State Education Department's motion picture division for licensing films. The legislation would make die price $6.50 for each print. The charge for original films— "those physically reviewed" — would be increased from $3 to $4 per thousand feet. The new law would take effect April 1, 1960. ( Continued from page 1 ) f ported to Congress that he favc^ "modest increase" in the minisj wage. He did not mention any fi| It is confidently expected, how| that labor committee members I seek clarification as to the meaj of "modest." The secretary is| pected to avoid making a recoml dation, but to comment, under ji ding, that he would consider "mo. a hike of 10 to 15 cents an hou" Pa. Allied (Continued from page 1) | their appointments only through papers and the National Allied 1 tin. Neither had heard directly I Abram Myers. The appointments1?] announced by Al Myrick, die j president of Allied. Finkel, appointed to the Ami j Congress of Exhibitors' indust search committee, queried: "I have never heard of this apf ment direcrtly from Myers. And could Myrick appoint me since Western Pennsylvania unit is no 1 affiliated with National Allied?" Finkel, chairman of the boa Western Pennsylvania Allied, Hendel, president, bodi insisted their appointments "do not chans. position as far as National Alii concerned." Hendel said that there is no c| of Western Pennsylvania returni the fold, unless the entire Na, setup becomes streamlined. He asserted: "We are living h age today, and National is still d four cylinder cars. They are still i ing to the old format, and it doe in at all with the pattern of tj demands." No Stipulation Yet In SEC-Skiatron Ca^ From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, March 7. stipulation concerning die busini fairs of Skiatron Electronics and. vision, Inc., has not yet been re| One is expected to be proposed though it may take some time its precise wording can be s upon by all die parties cone Oral testimony before Securitu Exchange Commission hearini aminer Robert N. Hislop will for another day or two. Special 'Dog' Showing Must See 'Crack' Twentieth Century-Fox on Saturday will hold a special showing of "A Dog of Flanders" at the DeMille Theatre here for the children now appearing in Broadway plays and for the children of stars. Theodore Bikel, who is featured in the production, will be host at the party. Mrs. Paul Jones Dies ATLANTA, Ga., March 7. Mrs. Paul Jones, 39, wife of The Atlanta Constitution Theatre and television editor, died last week at her home here after a year of illness. (Continued from page 1) cause of die unique concept the story and die dual charac tion, it is essential diat die fi seen from the veiy beginning, fore no one will be seated , performance after the film mences." Zanuck is insisting diat a cla1, inserted in all contracts for tl binding exhibitors to follow th< tice of admitting no patrons or credits have begun. The pr explains: "This is not a matter ,£ rogance or capriciousness on m but a requirement of the ston