Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1943)

50 Myers Scores 'Interference 9 In OWI Fight Abram F. Myers, general counsel and chairman of the board of Allied States Association, criticized the motion picture industry for taking part in the "political fight" which rose over the appropriations bill in Congress for the domestic services of the Office of War Information. Mr. Myers told delegates at the second day's session of the 24th annual meeting of Allied Theatre Owners of New Jersey, at the Hollywood Hotel in West End, N. J., "Congressmen have told me that the screen has ceased to become a medium of entertainment, and has become a medium of propaganda. I have denied this charge, but when the industry takes part in a political fight for an appropriation for a government agency, there definitely is great danger. "Taking part in factional battles may be an opportunity to solidify relations with those in power, but there will come a day of reckoning and the policy is a bad one in the long run. I hope the industry will not permit itself to be looked upon as an agency for propaganda, but as a well-run private business, which it really is," he said. Exhibition in war, its problems and its contributions, were discussed in detail at the annual convention of the organization. The theatre supply situation has improved and the War Production Board has cooperated in keeping houses open, Walter Green, president of National Theatre Supply, told the convention. Harry Lowenstein, president, who opened the MOTION PICTURE HERALD meeting Tuesday, reviewed the unit's war activities, and also reported that membership had increased. Other speakers Tuesday were Bernard Sholtz, of RCA Photophone, and Harry Murphy, Treasury Department. Mr. Murphy said that War Bond campaigns lacked "glamor" until the film industry participated. Invitations were accepted by the following Allied executives ; M. A. Rosenberg, Mr. Myers, Sidney Samuelson and Meyer Leventhal ; from the War Activities Committee, Francis Harmon, Si Fabian, Arthur Mayer and Herman Gluckman ; from M-G-M, William F. Rodgers, H. M. Richey, Jack Bowen and Ben Abner ; Warners, Joseph Bernhard ; 20th-Fox, Tom Connors, A. W. Smith, Jr., Ray Moon, Joe Lee ; Republic, Max Gillis ; Universal, David Levy, William Scully, and Paramount, Harry Randel. In Cleveland, last week, Allied Caravan leaders met with representatives from Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan units to discuss rentals and other problems. The board of national Allied will meet August 11th and 12th at Baltimore. 20th-Fox Defendant in Infringement Action A song infringement action was brought against Twentieth Century-Fox in New York Federal Court last week. Laurence J. Hirsch, plaintiff, executor of the Louis A. Hirsch estate, charged that the song "Hello, Frisco, Hello" in the company's film of the same title was used without permission of the copyright owner. M. Witmark & Sons, Music Publishers Holding Corporation and Gene Buck, former president of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers also were named as defendants. July 3 , I 943 British Refuse Export Permit to 'Colonel Blimp 9 "The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp" has been refused an export license by the British Government, London sources advised Monday. The picture, by General Films, Ltd., running two hours and 43 minutes, and in Technicolor, is a comedy study of the "reactionary" type made famous by the cartoons of Low, London newspaper artist. As such, it is said to strike at the older element in the British Army, and it was recalled this week that in its production, the British War Office refused cooperation. London diplomatic and military circles were said to have felt its distribution among friendly countries, especially the United States, would be detrimental to the British cause. The home distribution, it was added, was possible because the characters portrayed were well understood, but might not be outside the British Isles, and might be believed representative of those governing the Empire. The picture was produced by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. Added criticism of the picture, in London, was its alleged "over-sentimentalizing" of a German officer, in contrast to the British officer portrayed. Plan All-Chinese Musical The first all-Chinese musical film to be made in this country is being planned by the Wei Po Productions, a company which was formed recently. TWO SMASH COMEDY HITS FROM COLUMBIA! ALLEN JENKINS in "My Wife's An Angel" THE 3 STOOGES Curly . . . Larry . . . Moe in "THREE LITTLE TWIRPS"