Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1944)

THIS WEEK IN THE NEWS Premiere in China MGM has selected Chungking, China's wartime capital, to share with New York the simultaneous world premiere of "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" on November 15. The choice of Chungking has a special significance. It was there that Lieut. General James H. Doolittle and his men were to meet after the historic bombing of Tokyo. The film is MGM's adaptation of the story of the raid written by Major Ted W. Lawson and Bob Considine. Major Lawson, one of Doolittle's boys, is portrayed in the picture by Van Johnson, while Spencer Tracy plays the role of Lt. Gen. Doolittle. Generalissimo Chiang KaiShek, General Joseph W. Stilwell and his successors in command of the CBI theatre, Major General Claire L. Chennault, commander of the 14th U. S. Army Air Force, formerly known as the "Flying Tigers," and other Allied military leaders in Chungking have been invited to attend the premiere. Coincidence ON publicity for "The King Enjoys Himself," Producciones Grovas' latest, is the line : "any likeness to any personage in real life is a pure coincidence." But all Mexico knows who "The King" is. It is reported an obvious coincidence that the picture should have been titled thus shortly after the departure from Mexico of King Carol, of Rumania. King Carol is returning to Rumania. During his more than three years in Mexico, years in which he lacked not the night life to which he was accustomed in Europe, the King was nevertheless sensitive to reports about that life, as published frequently. Call of The Sixth [Continued from preceding page] have found the most effective in their wide but intensive experience through all the prior loan drives. "Sell them when they have the money," is Mr. Friedman'i slogan, based on his own observation of box Dffice reactions in relation to paydays. Timing of the appeal is of the greatest importance, he observes. "Because they spend and give when they have It, local payroll dates are the key dates for any campaign." In recognition of the increasing problem of making emphatic the nation's need of today to the public of the screen. Motion Picture Herald will present a special Sixth War Loan Award to the theatre showman whose campaign is held foremost among efforts reported to the Round Table, in the opinion of the judges. Details will be found in a subsequent page. Selling this one is a job for showmen. — Terry Ramsaye INDUSTRY now organizing for Sixth War Loan campaign Pages 10-36 National leaders of the new industry Bond campaign Page 10 Exchange district chairmen spearhead drive in key cities Pages 10-13 Showmen of Round Table tell how the Bonds are sold Page 27 The Checkup List of important promotional methods for theatres Page 30 SERVICE DEPARTMENTS FILM industry must lead in television, FCC told by SMPE Page 37 FRENCH plan 150 features next year; to seek U. S. release Page 42 CEREMONIES mark first sale of stamp marking film anniversary Page 47 WARNERS start British film; little hope of early studio rebuilding Page 48 BRITISH syndicate seeking Maxwell Interest in Associated British Page 48 Hollywood Scene In the Newsreels Managers' Round Table Page 53 Picture Grosses Page 62 Shorts on Broadway Page 67 What the Picture Did for Me IN PRODUCT DIGEST SECTION Showmen's Reviews Page 2165 Short Subjects Advance Synopses Page 2166 The Release Chart Page 80 Page 66 Page 64 Page 2167 Page 2168 Start on Rickenhacker CAMERA recording of background material for the screen biography of Captain Eddie Rickenhacker, that Winfield Sheehan-20th Century-Fox project, began this week at Santa Rosa, Cal. It is under the direction of Lloyd Bacon. The project, long on the way, has also reached a working title, "Hat in the Ring." It is announced that Fred MacMurray is to have the role of Captain Rickenhacker. Studio operations are scheduled to be begun in January. from the loan of a star to the financing of an independent production company, or just about anything else that doesn't require a camera and lights, can conduct their business about as well in the comfortable clubhouse of a racing emporium between events — and by preference do so — as in the noisy confines of the Brown Derby or the prejudiced atmosphere of somebody's office. It is not to be suggested that there's been anything like a letdown in the main business of making pictures, but these are considerations apart. The consideration of moment at the moment is that racing's back and all's right with Hollywood again. Riders Up LIFE in the Hollywood sector of the art industry took a long stride on the back trail toward pre-war normalcy Wednesday when executives, artisans, professionals and plain toilers, who hadn't seen each other anywhere except across conference or banquet tables since Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, went into a huddle on a matter of their common interest at Hollywood Park. The matter of common interest is classically referred to as "the development of the thoroughbred" and Hollywood Park is the race track ten quick miles south of Hollywood. There, horse racing, sometimes known as Southern California's favorite industry, was resumed this week after two years and ten months of recess ordained by the War Department, the War Manpower Commission, the Office of Defense Transportation and other governmental agencies, including the Office of Price Administration. The connection betv/een the racing of horses and the manufacture of motion pictures is informal and altogether coincidental, but extremely tangible. It stems from the uncontested fact that the parties to a story conference, a negotiation of a contract for anything Settlement Mexico City Bureau EMPLOYEES of the Cine Principal, a second run theatre below the Rio Grande, demanded a 50 per cent raise in pay, and when it was not forthcoming from Manuel Angel Fernandez, the exhibitor, went out on strike. Senor Fernandez explained he could not meet the demand of the workers, so he arranged with their union, the National Cinematographic Industry Workers and the Federal Board of Conciliation and Arbitration for the workers to assume charge of the theatre. El Senor had had other troubles to cope with. Owners of the theatre had claimed he owed rent and had got a court order for the removal of furniture and equipment. The new owners, the one-time strikers, become operators, blocked the removal, and took over the theatre on a cooperative basis. They are paying the exhibitor a royalty after their claims are satisfied. The Cine Principal was built 250 years ago and was practically rebuilt 13 years ago to function as a motion picture house. It is thei' first theatre in Mexico to be run cooperatively; by its former employees. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 4, 1944