Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1943)

July 3, 1943 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 23 BRITISH SHOWMEN PROTEST TOO MANY WAR FILMS Resolution of C.E.A. Asks End of War Pictures Also from Hollywood by AUBREY FLANAGAN in London With rather longer experience of wartime conditions and wartime audiences than their American equivalents, British exhibitors are not one whit less vocal these days upon the commercial value of war films. Long discontent at the spate of war subjects, a subject constantly on record on the British Studios page, has crystallized recently into a formal and corporative protest. This month the Cinematograph Exhibitors Association, on the invocation of one of its livelier branches, after a spirited discussion, passed a resolution stating that in the opinion of the Association too many war films were being produced on both sides of the Atlantic, and that it should be stopped. Out of the 62 films registered in the last quota year no less than 41 were were war subjects — 30 of them in the first feature class. Add to that high proportionate total, the spate of war films now washing into the shores of filmgoing Britain, and the net result is not necessarily box office. That at least is the experience of British exhibitors, that, and the aggravating proviso that most of these British war films must be taken as quota films under the Films Act. There is evidence from all points of the trade compass that the British public is increasingly sceptical about war subjects, per se, goes shopping in fact at other stores than those which boost the bomber and the underground worker, the occupied territory drama and the comedy of service life. The box office success of purely escapist pictures, musicals, comedies and South Sea Island magic, is not lost on the British exhibitor, although it seems slow to penetrate the minds of British producers. Advocates of the anti-war movement in entertainment, at the CEA General Council, appealed strongly that the war be left to the newsreels and the documentarians, who have covered it with realism and efficiency. Seen Defeating End Of Propaganda From the propaganda viewpoint fears are expressed that this constant concentration on war subjects is defeating the end of propaganda, because people are staying away from the films. Into the bargain, so fast is the moving pattern of war, that the vast majority of war films are out of date ere they reach the screen, succeeding, in the view of the picture house proprietors, in arousing only painful memories. It was a significant factor in this significant discussion that there were no dissentients, that exhibitors suggested discussion was superfluous and the case proven without plea. The difficulty which faces the British ex BRITISH ACCOUNTS ON CURRENT BASIS American distributing companies have had approximately $20,000,000 placed to their credit by London during the past few weeks, representing the remainder of their British balances released under the agreement reached last May for the removal of restrictions on the remittance of film revenue. All companies except United Artists, whose individual producer accounts are more complex, have had their final balances transferred, placing them on a current basis for the first time since the start of the war in 1939. hibitor in meeting his Quota commitments is reflected in the 1,800-odd defaulters for the past exhibitors' quota year, which ended on September 30th last. It has been physically impossible for them to carry out their legal obligations, for the elementary mathematical reason that the films have not been available. Some 62 films are obviously not enough to service 4,300-odd picture houses. Already hints have been forthcoming that even the Board of Trade takes a tolerant view of the situation, and is likely not to prosecute offenders who are the victims of circumstances outside their control. Even the reduction this year of the statutory minimum to 15 per cent is hardly likely to meet the problem. On the other hand, producers with films scheduled and resources available, contend that the release of more studio space would permit sufficient production to straighten out the tangle. London Group First to Propose Committee These and other problems are never far from the minds of the more farseeing and enlightened exhibitors within the CEA orbit. A new movement has been promulgated with the promotion of the idea of a policy committee within the Association, the duties of which should be keeping in review the progress of the industry and associated agencies and any matters affecting the cinema business and its promotion. The idea behind the committee, which is now being studied by the local branches, but which seems destined for materialization, is fruit of the brain of the former CEA president, Charles Metcalfe. It is supported, was in fact first mooted, by the London group. The committee would consider and promote action on matters not the direct concern of the exhibitor but in which he is or would be likely to be involved, such matters as the rationing or release of studio space, the relation of high budget pictures to more, if inexpensive pictures, the alleged renters policy of holding up British films and giving them a distant release, the re-absorption of postwar manpower, and television. It is, in fact, a protection and planning committee Mr. Metcalfe has in mind, although he calls it a "policy and liaison committee." Just exactly how it ultimately will shape and precisely what will be its functions are in the lap of the provincial gods and they, very soon, should have made up their minds. Detroit Theatres Back On Normal Schedule Operation of Detroit theatres was normal last week following the disruption of schedules caused by the race riots in that city. Other localities affected during the emergency were Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties. Governor Harry F. Kelly's 9:15 P.M. curfew brought an estimated loss of $600,000 to theatres. The cessation of hostilities early last week eased the curfew for theatres and permitted them to remain open until 11 P.M. However, during the three days of rioting, attendance in many theatres did not warrant opening. Upholds Century Circuit In Union Dispute Judge John H. McCooey, Jr., this week in Kings County Supreme Court, New York, denied a motion by the Empire State Motion Picture Operators' Union to dismiss a complaint brought against it by Century Circuit. The plaintiff previously had obtained an injunction restraining the union from dissolution and subsequent merger with operators' Local 306. Judge McCooey ruled the injunction valid in face of the union's contention that the complaint did not state sufficient facts to constitute a cause of action in view of the anti-injunction laws covering labor disputes. Bergman New Chairman of Industry Service Bureau Maurice Bergman, advertising and publicity head in the east for Universal, last week was elected chairman of the Industry Service Bureau, succeeding Mort Blumenstock, Warners' eastern advertising and publicity director. Mr. Bergman will serve for six months. Other chairmen of the division have been S. Barret McCormick of RKO and Robert M. Gillham of Paramount. Executive secretary of the organization is Glendon Allvine. Roberts in New Sales Post For March of Time George A. Roberts, formerly in charge of sales of Movietone News for Twentieth Century-Fox, has been appointed supervisor of sales and contracts for the March of Time series, newly-created post in the company. He had served as salesman, manager of several exchanges, district manager and special home office representative during his association with the company. Bader Weds Sylvia London David A. Bader, recently promoted to trade press contact in the 20th Century-Fox home office, was married to Sylvia London, secretary to Alan Corelli, director of Theatre Authority, at the Actor's Temple last Friday.