Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1936)

July 2 5, 19 3 6 MOTION PICTURE HERALD Internationalization The alliance of the Schenck brothers, Nicholas and Joseph, with Gaumont British through a stock deal to be made by reorganization of the holding company which controls GB, is regarded as a spectacular development of the trend toward internationalism in the industry. Under terms of the deal, announced by Isadore Ostrer, president of Gaumont British, Joseph M. Schenck, chairman of the board of Twentieth Century-Fox, and Nicholas M. Schenck, president of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Metro will buy half of the Fox company's 49 per cent interest in the Metropolis and Bradford Trust. After the sale the holdings of the three parties will be equalized so that none will have control and sufficient stock sold to the public in Great Britain to insure that a majority interest is held in that country. Possible results of the alliance are far-reaching. Details of the announcement are told on page 23. Showmen's Delight Motion Pictures of the Louis-Schmeling prize fight brought joy to the hearts of exhibitors in the New York area a recent survey shows, but they also brought a measure of grief to those who failed to book them before the event took place because of fear that the film would be a washout. The unexpected victory for the German fighter more than doubled the value of the picture the morning after the Yankee Stadium debacle. Why the films are expected to bring a record gross when all the results are in is told on page 61. Ascendency American motion pictures are in comfortable ascendency in Holland, where domestic production movement failed through failure to avail itself of expert technical services and sustained the displeasure of the public. No quotas are imposed upon imports and an admission tax is the only substantial burden borne by the box office. A word picture of the industry in Holland is given by the resident Ph. De Schaap on page 38. Hammond Successor The New York Herald-Tribune has appoined Richard Watts, Jr., to the post of drama critic, succeeding the late Percy Hammond, who died in April of this year. Mr. Watts has served the Herald-Tribune as motion picture critic for the past eight years and will be succeeded in that position by Howard Barnes, identified with the drama department during the same period. Religion in Films Philadelphia clergymen headed by the Rev. Dr. David Carl Colony of the Episcopal Church are utilizing the radio to promote interest in a proposed drive to stimulate interest in religion via a motion picture campaign. The clergymen are the same who not long ago conducted an unsuccessful fight against Sunday showings in Pennsylvania. Dr. Colony, in his radio broadcasts, deduces moral lessons from current pictures and points his reasoning with references to Biblical texts. The clergyman's methods are reviewed on page 30. Trade Practice Plans The Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America will make a final effort next month to obtain distributor action on the organization's 10-point trade practice program when Ed Kuykendall, president, arrives in New York, August 10. The failure of individual companies to take the initiative in granting outright any of the major concessions sought by the organization is held to be the principal reason for the lack of action on the program up to now. Detailed discussion of the organisation's plans is to be found on page 61. British Overbuilding With powers to "act immediately in any direction they think fit," a committee of British exhibitors is undertaking a solution of the problem of overbuilding as a result of action at the Conference of the Cinematograph Exhibitors Association. This and other development on the British scene, including the crystallizing of plans for the visit of a party of exhibitors to New York and Hollywood, are reviewed in the article on page 35. Tube Ruling Delayed Decision in Federal court has been reserved on an application for an injunction by the Union Radio Tube Company seeking to restrain the Radio Corporation of America, the General Electric Company and the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company from canceling a license agreement under which Union manufactures radio tubes. The suit is explained on page 26. Production Studios maintained during the week the increased tempo of production gained a fortnight ago and a net of fifty pictures were in work as the week closed. Titles of pictures started and finished, together with names of players and directors of each, are reported by Gus McCarthy on page 41. Nazi Edict Applied Direct application of Nazi Germany's emphatic regulations pertaining to films "detrimental to German prestige" was made to the American production, "I Was a Captive of Nazi Germany," in Hollywood while the picture was being made, according to Producer Alfred T. Mannon. German Consul Georg Gyssling notified members of the cast, through the mails, Mr. Mannon says, of the German law governing pictures of the specified character and players appearing therein and indicated to them what might be possible consequences of continuing in the production, whereupon some of the players withdrew and others continued under promise that their names would not be included in the billing. Provisions of the decree and the warning issued to Miss Steele are reported on page 15. Pictorial Preview Produced in part on the biggest set erected in Hollywood since Breezy Eason reproduced the Coliseum for the chariot race sequence in "Ben Hur," the Warner production of "The Charge of the Light Brigade" has attracted wide attention and is the subject of enthusiastic comment as the shooting progresses. Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn are starred and Michael Curtiz directs. A pictorial preview of the picture by Gus McCarthy is presented on pages 16-17. Anti-Trust Action Answers denying alleged anti-trust violations in the distribution of motion pictures in the state of New Jersey were filed this week by 27 companies and officials in the federal court at Newark as a result of a $1,060,000 damage suit and equity action brought by the Ledirk Amusement Company and the Strand Operating company of the Oranges. For details of the action and the denials of the defendants, see the story found on page 28. Hungary Edict Because of the new edict of the Hungarian government prohibiting the showing of two feature pictures on one program, the importation of American short product into that country is expected to show a considerable increase next year, according to Endre Hevesi, Motion Picture Herald correspondent in Budapest. A general discussion of the industry in that country is found on page 48.