Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1938)

34 MOTION PICTURE HERALD November 5, 1938 WPA TO XLORIFr FILM INDUSTRY BY SHOWING IT AS "HORSE OPERA Theatre Project Play in Chicago Reported Changed to "Skeleton" Hunt When Companies Hesitate to Provide Material by WILLIAM F. CROUCH in Chicago What was intended to be a graceful salute to the motion picture industry during its Golden Jubilee in 1939 may become just the opposite, according to authoritative reports in Chicago. The WPA's Federal Theatre Project in Chicago had under consideration for some months the production of a stage revue on the order of a glorification of the film industry. This production, planned on _ an elaborate scale, was to be a sort of musical revue as well as historical drama depicting outstanding events in the history of motion pictures. Then something happened. Written by Emmett Lavery and based on a play by John McGee, both Federal Theatre officials, the "extravaganza," temporarily titled "The Horse Opera," called for the use of a number of sequences from oldtime motion pictures and a few new ones. Sought Industry's Aid It was the desire of the Government's WPA officials in charge of the production to get assistance from the film companies in obtaining the necessary films. A script, in rough form, very rough in fact, according to Chicago film theatre officials, was submitted to the New York offices of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, for comment. The WPA authors, having created several scenes which burlesqued film executives and stars, felt that naturally some criticism would be voiced regarding these portions but they did not feel they were sufficiently serious to result in rejection of the entire idea. In fact, they felt it was a production that would avoid the intense expose type of dramatization which has characterized many of the Federal Theatres "living newspaper" shows. Behind it all the WPA authors felt that produced according to their plans the play would be, in reality, a means of showing that "Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment." Instead of getting praise for what they felt, so they said, was an attempt to glorify the history of motion pictures, the federal theatre officials received what they considered a "slap in, the face." Unnamed major company officials said they wanted no part of the idea and it is learned that some who read the script in the MPPDA office pointed out various phases they considered extremely harmful to the industry. With this adverse comment the Federal Theatre is going ahead with the idea anyway, but from a dififerent viewpoint. Turns to Hunt for "Skeletons" Now, instead of a glorification of the industry, members of the theatre project's research staff are digging into the closets of the film business for skeletons which they plan to rattle on the stage next spring when the production is presented. The corporate structure, and monopolistic tendencies, if any are apparent as a result of the research, will be dramatized. The "insides" of the industry, censorship and NEW YORK SEEKS TAX PENALTIES Hearings are now under way on penalties assessed against United Artists for failure to pay New York City's two per cent sales tax from March 31, 193 5, to June 15, 1937. Penalties aggregating -more than $100,000 are being sought of major distributors by the city comptroller's office. Preliminary hearings involving penalties against Columbia, RKO, Paramount and Warner Brothers have already been held. The film companies, acting on the assumption that a municipal emergency tax was not applicable to a business in interstate commerce, did not pay the tax from the time of its enactment until June 15, 1937. In the meantime, the state court of appeals held that the tax was collectible on films exhibited in theatres within the city limits. The distributors then paid the tax arrears but the city now is pressing for interest and penalties on those amounts. similar developments will all be a part of it. Emphasis will be placed on the effect investigators think pictures have on the youth of the nation and all available facts regarding the influence of gangster and crime pictures will be paraded before the footlights. What influence pictures have on public morals and opinion will also be a part of the production as now planned. Federal theatre officials in Chicago say they had preferred a stage attraction that would show the glory and romance of the film industry, but with the industry itself not willing to cooperate by getting them the necessary bits of film they have only the other choice as announced and have made extensive preparation to produce a show_ based upon the socalled "history" of motion pictures. That it will be favorable or unfavorable in the final results remains to be seen. As for the Jubilee — Reporting on the motion picture industry's own reputed plan to stage an elaborate celebration next year in observance of its "Golden Jubilee," Terry Ramsaye, in Motion Picture Herald, on September 24th, wrote: "In the background of the councils of the 'Motion Picture's Greatest Year' campaign there is continued talk, tentative talk, of a project to make next year the occasion of a Golden Jubilee of the industry, a celebration, with the accent on the box office, at the public's expense, of the 'film's fiftieth year.' "Official announcement is not to be had, despite the gossip, because the plan has not jelled yet. If, especially if, the current campaign should prove of particular success, it is probable that the Fiftieth Anniversary will become a big movement and in time a fact. "Several reasons apply. This year's drive is 'a New York job,' a distribution project. Hollywood has been covertly not a little critical, making not too subtle, unofficial remarks about 'glamour' and 'showmanship' and in general yearning to paint the sky with some ornate preview colors and arc lights. Hollywood has been thinking about that Fiftieth Anniversary as a Hollywood job, a Production demonstration done in the inimitable super-de luxe orchids and ermine manner of the Dream City. "Next year has been so tentativelv chosen as the Fiftieth Anniversary principally because Hollywood would like a Golden opportunity." India Film Industry MournsLateLeader by G. A. THAKUR in Karachi An urgent meeting of the Executive Committee of the Motion Picture Society of India was held October 20th and the following condolence resolution was passed : "This meeting of the Executive Committee of the Motion Picture Society of India places on record its deep sense of sorrow at the sudden and untimely death of their worthy president, the Honourable Sir Phiroze Sethna, and offers its sincere and heartfelt sympathy and condolence to Lady Sethna and other members of the family on their bereavement. "This meeting further places on record the society's debt of gratitude to the late Sir Phiroze for the extraordinary services rendered by him to the Indian motion picture industry during his tenure as president for the years 1936-'38. Sir Phiroze's selfless efforts to advocate the cause of India's motion picture industry in various ways will ever be remembered with respect and by all his untimely death the industry has sustained an irreparable loss." The Indian Motion Picture Producers Association has decided to sponsor a scheme to produce Indian newsreels. The biggest of stumbling blocks in the way of the project is the question of the language. This will be overcome to a degree, by superimposing titles in the various regional languages. Lady Lithingow, wife of the Viceroy,, has raised the Tuberculosis Fund in India, for which one Lac of Rupees ($44,444.44) has been given to New Theatres, Ltd., Calcutta, to make a picture, "Enemy," dealing with the most dreaded disease in India, tuberculosis. This amount is to be returned to the fund along with the first day box office returns of the picture from exhibitors all over India. Cohn, McConville Sail for Europe His annual trip declared necessary at the present time because of the rapidly changing European scene, Columbia Pictures vicepresident Jack Cohn sailed Friday on the Queen Mary for England and the Continent. Also on board and for essentially the same reason were general foreign manager J. A. McConville and his assistant, Jack Segal. Mr. Cohn will confer with Continental managers and also look over the situation at Denham Studios.