Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1943)

40 MOTION PICTURE HERALD July 3 , 1943 LETTERS FROM READERS Labor Ministry ————————— Halts Mexican Theatre Strike FINDS HERALD WELCOME TO SOLDIERS AFIELD To the Editor of the Herald : I should like to take this means of expressing to you my appreciation for your splendid cooperation in distribution of your magazine, Motion Picture Herald. Since subscribing for the aforementioned publication, I have received all issues to date, and wish to express my thanks to you for the efficiency and promptness with which you carry on your work. For eight years I have read this publication, and during the time I was employed in the capacity of assistant manager of the Strand theatre, Poplarville, Miss., I used it not only as a trade paper, but as a very successful guide to the daily needs of a theatre manager. Now I enjoy same as merely an entertaining and informative guide, but one which keeps me in step with the motion picture world, and proves to be a worthy companion. When I am finished with each issue, I take it to the post library, and it is encouraging to see how the boys enjoy reading the articles, which ordinarily interest the show world. We are blessed with a very good Special Service Division here, and so we still have contact with America's leading entertainment. Sometimes they outdo themselves, for we are seeing the very pictures which are box office on Broadway today and tomorrow. No one will ever know just how much a reel of film from the U. S. A. holds, nor the actual good it does the boys, who are so many miles away from home. For this, we have to thank the motion picture industry. Thanks again for your wonderful work, and keep the Herald reeling our way. — James M. Redding, pfc, Army Air Corps. PATRON PLEADS FOR FEWER WAR FILMS To the Editor of the Herald: I am sending this request with the fervent hope that you may be able to help give some relief to the movie-going public, from the awful weight of war films that we are haying fall upon us, these war-torn days of anxiety and suspense. A measure of instructive offerings of that nature, is very helpful at this time ; but no such deluge as we are forced to accept can be appreciated by the American public. Can't you cook up something and call it "Ten Nuts in a Bar Room," or something equally as foolish, which could be ably presented by Bing and Bob and eight other gents of that ilk? It would be such a welcome relief for a moment. —Mrs. Clara B. Warlick, 308 East 11th Street, Austin, Texas. URGES SHORT SUBJECTS TO CURB VANDALISM To the Editor of the Herald: The writer has just completed a survey, cursory though it may seem, among several major producers, several home office representatives and three public relations counsel for the same, O. W. I. spokesmen (supposedly), W. A. C. committee members, U. S. Army officials of several large camps and sundry other film folk, all of whom evinced an interest in some sort of solution to what has now become a national problem, namely, Hooliganism and its attendant viciousness, vandalism, which is occurring not only in theatres but in public parks and other recreational centers. To the writer's utter amazement when it was suggested that a committee be immediately organized to call upon the Hays office with a detailed plan recommending the production of a few short subjects portrayed intelligently with several marquee names to enhance its box office value, whose showing would be pledged along somewhat similar lines as the Victory, W. A. C., and O. W. I. shorts, he invariably met with a rebuff from all of the above interested parties. The sum total of their reactions could be expressed as follows : "Why call the public's attention to conditions which must be handled as they occur by the local amusement operators involved." The responsibility of solving intelligently, through visual education, a problem whose severity can be increasingly magnified rests with theatre owners and producers alike. Both of us have in a large measure contributed to the situation we now face, as best evidenced by parental and police objections to our continued showing of "Dead End" and "East Side Kid" pictures and others of similar nature, which if produced with intelligence, would have a psychological curbing effect on 'teen-age youngsters. In spite of the ostrich like attitude of those interviewed, the writer is still firm in his belief that a few shorts intelligently produced can be an invaluable aid in materially lessening a fast growing menace to the public at large as well as the amusement industry generally. With that in mind he is directing this letter to the above named leaders of the motion picture industry who as well as exhibitors nationally have a moral obligation to the American public and whose combined huge investments, if for no other reason, warrant immediate action. — D. J. Lewis, Buyer and Booker, 1001 Fox Theatre Building, Detroit, Mich. SAYS WAR PICTURES NOT BOX OFFICE To the Editor of the Herald: I feel strongly that the people go to theatres for entertainment, and that they get all the war information they care to absorb, via the newspapers and radio and the newsreels. Particularly for subsequent runs, a war picture is not box office. The word gets around it is merely a glorified newsreel. Pictures with war backgrounds supply appeal, but even they can be overdone. It is useless to cite "Hitler's Children," as that cannot be termed a war picture, being an expose of the Nazi methods with the young. An exception that proves the rule. The people want mental relaxation. They want to get away from war worries for a couple of hours. They want to be entertained. Outside the theatres it is all war. Theatres should provide entertainment. By so doing they can build up public morale and improve the contribution of each to the war effort, and at the same time keep the seats occupied. Empty seats offer no inspiration for the public, no profit for the exhibitor, no taxes for the Government. — J. M. Franklin, president of Franklin & Herschorn Theatres, St. John, N. B. RKO Radio Announces Trade Showings on Five Films RKO Radio has announced trade showings of five films on July 12th through 15th in key , cities throughout the country. All pictures will be shown in all cities on the same date except in Omaha and St. Louis where screenings will be held a day later. The dates are as follows: "The Sky's the Limit" and "Petticoat Larceny," Monday, July 12th; "The Falcon in Danger," and "Behind the Rising Sun," Tuesday, July 13th ; "Mexican Spitfire's Blessed Event," Wednesday, July 14th. by LUIS BECERRA CELIS in Mexico City Direct intervention of the Labor Ministry ended a strike against the Cine Teatro Juarez, one of the most important theatres at Monterrey, scene " of the recent Roosevelt-Avila Camacho interview. The settlement was on j the basis of the exhibitors granting their employes the same pay and working conditions as those enjoyed by theatre workers, a considerable concession for a provincial cinema. V Gabriel Soria, the producer who has won five annual gold medals as the best in Mexico, is preparing another picture of religious theme "St. Philip of Jesus," Mexico's boy patron saint who was murdered by the Japanese late in the 16th Century when he went as a missionary to Japan. The picture is being supervised by Jose Vasconcelos, the writer who in 1929 was defeated in the campaign for President of Mexico. The film will have a version in English as well as its Spanish version. This will be the first anti-Japanese picture to be produced in Mexico. V Posa Films, S. A., has started making a burlesque of "Romeo and Juliete" featuring Posa's vice-president, Mario Moreno, in the lead role. Juliete is being played by a new and young star, Maria Elena Marquez. She takes the place of Lupe Valez who quit Posa to play the lead in "Nana." V So crowded with work are all nine of the local studios that Ramon Pereda, who graduated from actor to director and producer, has arranged to build his own studios. They are to be here and are expected to be in service in the early autumn. V Film companies are forbidden to use in all or in part the Mexican National Hymn or any references to it or its composers without the express permission of the Ministry of Public Education, which a presidential decree has authorized to publish and distribute the only official version of the anthem. Radio stations must not broadcast the anthem or any part of it without the Ministry's permission. The action was taken to assure proper respect for the anthem. Those who disobey this regulation are subject to a penalty of imprisonment for from one to 15 days and fines ranging from 21 cents to $100, depending upon the flagrancy of the offense. V Theatre business this June is 15 per cent better than it was during the same month last year here. V Immigration regulations have disrupted the production here of "The Man with the Iron Mask," which Gonzalo Elvira is producing. Carlos Villarias, Spanish actor, playing one of the leads, was obliged to leave Mexico for the United States as his six-month permit to remain in the country had expired. "Moon and Sixpence" Sets Mexican House Record According to the United Artists foreign department, "The Moon and Sixpence," David Loew-UA film, set a new house record at the Palacio Cino in Mexico City where it had its premiere on June 25th. Walter Gould, foreign manager, attended the premiere with Len Daly of the home office foreign publicity department.