Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1943)

50 MOTION PICTURE HERALD July 24, I 943 Study Plans for New OWI-British Program Reciprocal Agreement Is Ended with Scrapping of OWI Film Branch With the scrapping of the domestic branch of the Office of War Information by Congress in June, the reciprocal agreement between the OWI and the British Ministry of Information for the interchange of Government-made war propaganda films automatically ended. Since the agreement was made last year, four MOI shorts were distributed to American theatres by the motion picture bureau of the OWI through the War Activities Committee. The agreement between the MOI and the major companies, however, put into effect last October, is in operation. Under the existing rota system, each of the eight companies agreed to distribute this year two MOI pictures. In October, the agreement terminates and according to reports, representatives of the film companies and the MOI currently are discussing extension of the plan. Continuation for another year of the rota system will be determined within the next few weeks. Four MOI Shorts Handled Here Through WAC The four MOI shorts which were distributed in the U. S. through OWI-WAC channels during the last season were: "Dover," "Night Train," "Malta," and the most recent picture, "Lift Your Head," which currently is being exhibited. Two U. S. Government'made pictures shown in England during that time were "Prelude to War" and "Battle of Britain," made by Lt. Col. Frank Capra of the Special Services Branch of the Army. MOI officials were greatly impressed with the Capra films, which are part of the "Why We Fight" series, and highly recommended their showing to theatre audiences in the United States and England. British MOI Concerned Over Shorts Program According to the reciprocal agreement with OWI and MOI, prints for each war propaganda short were to be made available for distribution by each agency. According to Harry Kosiner of the overseas film division of OWI, a number of prints of OWI shorts produced by the domestic branch of the U. S. war agency were sent to England, but thus far no distribution arrangements have been completed by MOI in London. That the British Ministry of Information is greatly concerned with the outcome of current discussions concerning maintenance here of the Victory shorts program of the OWI was indicated this week by an MOI official in New York. Under the Victory shorts program agreed upon in May by industry leaders and the OWI, the motion picture bureau of OWI was to produce 26 shorts for the year ; the major companies, 10 shorts; independent KASTNER NAMED OWI LONDON FILM HEAD Lacy Kastner, special home office representative of Columbia Pictures' foreign department, granted a release from that company by Joseph McConville, vice-president in charge of foreign distribution, will leave for London shortly to take up his post as film distribution representative for the overseas film division of the Office of War Information. Robert Riskin, head of the OWI division, announced last Thursday Mr. Kastner's assignment would have to do with the placement of foreign versions of Hollywood pictures selected by the OWl for exhibition in countries occupied by the American armed forces. Mr. Kastner's post in England will be similar to that in North Africa held by Laudy Lawrence. Mr. Riskin also announced that the division needed additional men with experience in foreign distribution and with knowledge of foreign languages for overseas assignment. producers, three; Coordinator of InterAmerican Affairs, four ; five were to come from various charity agencies including the American Red Cross and the Infantile Paralvsis Fund: and four were to come from the United Nations. All 52 shorts were to be distributed weekly by the WAC, with OWI paying for print costs. Whether or not the MOI can obtain distribution of its films through the War Activities Committee, in addition to the regular rota plan of distribution through the major companies, is doubtful. It was reported in New York this week that a plan might be evolved whereby the MOI would scrap the rota system and distribute from eight to 10 shorts a year through WAC, paying for all print costs. This was considered likely, for the reason that WAC distribution would guarantee greater and quicker theatre coverage, although the expenditure entailed for the MOI would total more than $100,000 a year, observers estimated. Three More Shorts Ready For Allocation In addition to the four films distributed through the OWI-WAC, the seven MOI pictures which major companies agreed to distribute are: "Next of Kin," feature, through Universal; "Desert Victory," feature, and "Common Cause," short, Twentieth Century-Fox ; "Coastal Command" and "The Last Hazard," shorts, RKO ; "These Are the Men," short, MGM; "In the Drink," short, Warner Bros.; "Kill or Be Killed," short, United Artists; "Merchant Convoy," for merly called "Merchant Seamen," short, Columbia; "Letter from Ireland," short, Paramount. Three more MOT shorts are ready for allocation in the rota system of distribution. They are: "Grade Report," "Women of Britain" and "It's Just the Way It Is." Only one short submitted to the rota and drawn by Warner Bros, was not distributed, "We Sail at Midnight," which both MOI and Warners agreed to discard. "Merchant Convoy," originally drawn by Paramount, was turned over by that company to Columbia which had been interested in the film before the rota plan was set up last year. British Crown Film Unit Sends Crew to U. S. A crew of the Crown Film Unit, producer of official war films for the British Ministry of Information, is on its way to New York to shoot the second half of a Technicolor production titled "Western Approaches," the MOI announced in New York this week. The picture tells the story of Atlantic convoys and their naval and aerial escorts. In the crew are two American sound technicians of the U. S. Civilian Technical Corps who have been designated to work with Crown Film, as well as Pat Jackson, director ; Dora Wright, production manager, and two cameramen. General Aniline Gets New Board of Directors A new board of directors of General Aniline and Film Corporation was named last week, the third since the Federal authorities took control more than a year ago. The company, AgfaFilm parent, reported for three months ending June 30th, sales of $15,647,000, compared with $12,841,000 in the preceding quarter. After taxes and charges the net income was $1,183,000, equal to $1.62 a share on Class A, and 16 cents on Class B common stock, compared with $917,000 and $1.25 on Class A, and 12 cents on Class B shares in the preceding period. Treasury Extends Date for Filing Foreign Holdings Film companies were given a time extension by the Treasury Department in which to file reports of their holdings abroad. Other companies also were favored by the directive which sets back the date two months, from August 31st to November 1st. Taking into consideration the shortage of clerical help and the slow return of reports from abroad, the Treasury believed the extension was the wisest move in view of presentday war conditions. Warners Give Bonuses; UA Raises Salaries Warner Brothers employees on the payrolls six months or longer received a bonus of a half a week's salary last week. At United Artists' home office, salaries were increased on the average of 15 per cent, as approved by the War Labor Board, retroactive to November 1, 1942. Recommend Dividend The board of directors of Associated British has recommended a final dividend of per cent on the company's ordinary stock, plus a stock bonus of 2^ per cent for the year ended last March. It will bring the total to 17^ per cent for the year. The proposal is expected be brought up at the next meeting. Circuit Executive to Red Cross Merle Potter, general manager of Berger Amusement Company of Minneapolis, has resigned to join the American Red Cross on overseas duty.