Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1943)

26 MOTION PICTURE HERALD August 7 , 1943 WAC Maps Plans for Mexican output _ . For Year Seen War Loan campaign Cut to 85 Films Griffith and Doob Confer on Drive in September to Raise 15 Billion Preliminary plans for the September War Bond drive, in which theatres are to have a prominent part, were drawn at a meeting in New York late last week among L. C. Griffith, general chairman of the industry drive; Si Fabian, chairman of the War Activities Committee theatres division; Arthur Mayer and Ed Schreiber, of the WAC, and Oscar Doob, of the Treasury Department. The September drive, which is to be the Third National War Loan, aims at the sale of $15,000,000,000 worth of Bonds during the month. On his arrival in New York, Mr. Griffith said, "This is a great opportunity for the entire industry to work together on one of the most important war jobs it has ever undertaken. The Third War Loan will need the greatest degree of cooperation from every single person in the industry. One of the reasons I was happy to accept the post of general chairman for the campaign was that I was certain I could count on that cooperation to make this job another industry success." Doob Says Industry Is Now in the Spotlight Mr. Griffith returned to the Oklahoma City headquarters of his circuit over the weekend, but was to return to New York August 10th. He is expected to make his headquarters at the WAC New York office. Meanwhile, he will choose the personnel of the campaign committee. The motion picture industry is in the spotlight and on the spot in the Third War Loan, according to Mr. Doob, who in his new capacity as assistant national director of the War Finance Division, came from Washington over the weekend to confer with WAC heads. "I doubt that many in the motion picture industry realize fully just how important a place the industry is expected to take in this gigantic Third War Loan drive," Mr. Doob told Mr. Griffith, and Mr. Fabian. Calls It the Greatest Mass Selling Job Undertaken "Since getting into the new Treasury job, I've been surprised repeatedly to hear, first hand, how much reliance Secretary Morgenthau and Theodore R. Gamble, national director, are placing on the industry and all its branches to fulfill a vita! part in the overall drive to sell $15,000,000,000 worth of War Bonds in September. At every Washington meeting with the tremendous field organization of the War Finance Committee, the plans of the motion picture industry are discussed and emphasized as a prime factor in the success of the drive," Mr. Doob said. "The September drive is focused on the 'E' Bonds and mass distribution. It is probably the greatest mass selling job ever undertaken— with some 50 million customers in view. And that makes it a film industry campaign — because, through the theatres, the movies reach those millions. Ten per cent of all the official fiscal issuing agents in the country are now motion picture theatres— which emphasizes the importance of those lobby booths that are open for business night as well as day and every day. "The Treasury has set up a promotion plan of great scope and completeness — newspaper ads, radio, billboards and all other media. But one phase of the campaign is primarily in showmen's hands — the exploitation, the ballyhoo, the color and spectacle of the campaign. Parades and Rallies U rged To Spur Bond Sales "The Treasury feels that that phase must not be overlooked, that the touch of the spectacular is needed to round out the campaign. Hollywood, with its caravan, its hero tours and the theatres with their locally executed parades, rallies and displays, are the key factors in the publicity barrage that must pave the way for the hundreds of thousands of volunteers who must do the actual Bond selling," Mr. Doob said. The WAC public relations division executive committee discussed publicity in the drive at a luncheon in New York Tuesday. Ray Beall will be campaign publicity chairman; A. P. Waxman, campaign publicity director. Crowding 37,000 into the Yale Bowl for a rally last week, with radio, screen and stage talent on hand, the local Shangri-la War Stamp committee reached a $2,500,000 total of sales for New Haven against its $169,000 quota. Harry F. Shaw, Loew-Poli division manager, was program chairman. The motion pictures given free to soldiers by the American film industry have been praised by the Stars and Stripes, Army weekly, in its Middle Eastern edition, which recently remarked, in part: "If your wallet is a little short of piastres, francs, shillings, rials, fils — or whatever else is passing for money in your neck of the Middle East — don't let it worry you because the American motion picture industry is releasing films to U. S. troops free for nix." The films, in 16mm, come to the soldiers in that area, through the Middle East Film Exchange, headed by Major J. E. Felton. The exchange's library now has 400 films. Schaefer Chairman for NEIC September Rally At its meeting in New York on Tuesday, the National Entertainment Industry Council elected George J. Schaefer, War Activities Committee chairman, to head the arrangements committee in connection with the group's mass rally set for September 20th in New York. He also was named to the membership committee, of which Harry Brandt, president of the Independent Theatre Owners Association, New York, is chairman. Anita Granis was named to the coordinating committee, while Philip Loeb was elected chairman of the working committee and Leonard Callahan chairman of the executive secretary committee. by LUIS BECERRA CELIS in Mexico City Mexican producers must curb their output for the rest of this year in view of the raw film shortage. It is understood there is only enough raw stock available for Mexico in 1943 for a maximum production of 85 features and as the producers made 42 pictures up to July 15th the producers must hand-pick films that they have arranged to produce. Frank Founce, impresario of screen and stage theatres in California which cater to Mexicans and now of the cinematographic division of the Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs, is here helping producers cope with the raw film situation. Some producers see 60 as the maximum 1943 Mexican output. V Some exhibitors here are developing plans for girls to substitute for male employees as far as possible, as is being done in the United States, in the event that the war should make greater demands on Mexican manpower. While, right now, there is no need for girls to take men's jobs in the theatres, the exhibitors have an eye to the future. Most theatre cashiers now are women. V Those who would register their picture scenarios for copyright protection with the Mexican Government, through the Intellectual Properties Department of the Ministry of Public Education, must now work harder. Mere synopses can still be registered. But they are only accepted as "literary pieces," which means that the author has no protection on his idea. For full copyright protection, the scenarist must present, along with the synopsis, the complete film dialogue and such technique as camera movements. V Films Mundiales, producer of two pictures that won Mexican prizes, has announced that on October 23rd it will start a fourth film version of the classic Mexican novel, "Santa" ("Saintess"). The third version of this story, directed by Norman Foster, did well at the Cine Palacio here and now is doing capacity business at the Cine Insurgentes, both first run theatres. Films Mundiales has lent its patronage to two of its leading actors, Rene Cardona and Felipe Subervielle, who have organized a producing unit of their own, which expects to start work on its first picture about September 1st. RKO Film Has 79-Theatre Premiere in Northeast RKO Radio has announced that 79 theatres took part in the premiere showings of "Behind the Rising Sun" in New England and upper New York State on August 3rd. A "Buddy Party" was part of the celebration in Boston on the previous night when James Braddock, former heavyweight boxing champion, met Charlie Strack in a wrestling bout refereed by Jack Sharkey. Universal's Technicolor feature, "The Phantom of the Opera" opens August 19th at the Albee theatre, Cincinnati. Warners' "Watch on the Rhine" opens Friday at the Warner theatre, Atlantic City. United Artists' "Hi, Diddle, Diddle" opened Tuesday at the Avon, Utica. Paramount's "Let's Face It" opened Wednesday at the Paramount, New York. The New York opening of "Watch on the Rhine" is on August 26th at the company's Strand theatre. General release is September 4th. "Hi, Diddle, Diddle" will have pre-release engagements, after the Utica engagement, at I.oew circuit theatres.