Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1944)

THIS WEEK IN THE NEWS! If0( Caesar Into High HAVING told it to President Roosevelt and to the War Labor Board, James Caesar Petrillo, president of the American Federation of Musicians, is telling it to the Marines. He also is telling it to the Congress of Industrial Organizations. Mr. Petrillo, whose union recently became $4,000,000 per year richer because of his telling, has reached the decision that members of the United States Marine Band may no longer give music lessons in their spare time. He had heard that some of the band members had been picking up a little spending money in this extracurricular activity. He demanded of Marine Corps headquarters that it be discontinued. "A reply is being drafted," headquarters advised. In Chicago this week a phonograph in the war exhibit at the CIO convention in the Stevens Hotel ground to a stop. Representatives of Mr. Petrillo's organization had pointed to an agreement with all Chicago hotels that a Federation record turner must supervise the music box whenever any recorded music is being played. Already Made CAPTAIN CLARK GABLE'S motion picture of air action over Germany will not be released to theatres because the Office of War Information says it has been done before. The OWI denied the Army's request for theatre distribution on the ground that Captain Gable's production was largely duplication of "Memphis Belle," a documentary produced by Colonel William Wyler, formerly of Hollywood also, for the Signal Corps. Terming the picture "beautiful in spots," OWI officials said it was made essentially for training purposes. The fans, however, will not be completely denied. The seven-reel picture will be made available in about six weeks in 16mm style for showing by clubs, war plants and private organizations. Anyone interested may borrow a print by application to the OWI in Washington. Films for Germany THAT the American and British film industries will play an active role in the re-education of the German people appears assured. Last Thursday in London, Francis Harley, managing director of Twentieth Century-Fox in England, proposed at a meeting of the general council of Kinematograph Renters Society that the United Nations confer now on how best to assist with motion pictures in the re-education of Nazi youth. The KRS recommended that ajoint committee of producers, distributors and exhibitors meet to confer speedily with American industry leaders and those of other countries. Another Twentieth Century-Fox executive declared his intention of producing a special film for Germany, last week in Hollywood. Darryl F. Zanuck, in discussing his ideas for such a picture, said that a film could bring "visually and with terrific impact the barbarities inflicted upon innocent peoples by the Nazis." Mr. Zanuck believes available news shots and other material can be used for the picture "to convince the German people their ELEVEN companies will release 150 films through January Page 13 MAJORS turn promotional eye on community groups Page 15 U. S. and majors unite in defense of Consent Decree, four years old Page 18 BOND sales soar as industry launches Sixth War Loan drive Page 25 WHO'S WHO, 12,000 strong, features new Motion Picture Almanac Page 28 SERVICE DEPARTMENTS 1^ 1 1 PRC Pictures, growing, buys eight exchange aims at theatres Page 3' It 01 loortii KUYKENDALL of MPTOA urges unity fir among exhibitor groups Page 3 RODGERS points out need for unified a[ proach to post-war problems Page 3 LAWYERS' field day ahead in theatre use c television Page 3 BOX OFFICE Champions for the month (| October Page 3 Hollywood Scene In the Newsreels Managers' Round Table Obituaries Picture Grosses Page 45 What the Picture Did for Me Page 4 Page 40 IN PRODUCT DIGEST SECTION Page 51 Showmen's Reviews Page 219 Page 60 Release Chart by Companies Page 219 Page 59 The Release Chart Page 2I9'|'" armies were not made up of great and noble heroes." Many months ago British and American Army officials discussed the use of the screen in connection with invasion plans for Germany with officials of the film divisions of the British Ministry of Information and the U. S. Office of War Information in London. A program was outlined and already is in work, but the details have been guarded closely, for obvious security reasons. Thespic Cop Something for the Boys MURRAY LAFAYETTE, exploitation man for Twentieth Century-Fox, in San Francisco, describes himself as "probably the first exploiteer to deliver a baby to exploit a picture." Mr. Lafayette was busy working on plans for his company's new Technicolor picture, "Something for the Boys," when he was informed that his wife, Ethel, had given birth to a girl. "What a natural 1" cried Mr. Lafayette, as he reached for a telephone and notified the San Francisco papers of the blessed event. News of the arrival made the columns of all the papers. "It's unethical," admitted Mr. Lafayette, adding quickly, "but who ever heard of an exploiteer having ethics?" NOT all police are bad actors. Not in Mexic City, anyway. "Cantinflas," in private lift Mario Moreno, Mexico's top tramp comediaij screen money maker and vice-president of Posj, je Films, has been made an honorary commandeof the local police force. North of the bordei; his honorary rank equals that of police inspec tor. It was awarded as a tribute to his contri bution to sustaining national morale by amus ing the public. In his last picture, "The Un; known Gendarme," Mr. Moreno poked fun £| the police. His new position makes necessar: numerous reviews of a strictly military nature with penalties for falling short of his "duty" ij' any respect. Print Jam GOVERNMENT orders for 450 Technicolor prints for war shorts have set back print orders of the major companies for about. 30 days, adding to the already serious jam at Technicolor's Hollywood laboratories. MGM has no prints on hand for "National Velvet" and "Meet Me in St. Louis," other than the two secured for trade showings. Other companies are similarly handicapped, including United Artists, which must, wait many weeks for prints on "Colonel Blimp," the Eagle-Lion production which UA will release under the recently completed arrangement with J. Arthur Rank. Mid-West Hitching Post CLEVELAND and the middle-west are to havv the only all-Western theatre shortly, accordin^j to Emanuel Stutz, operator of the Penn SquarCj The Cleveland house has been showing foreigij films but will change its policy and its name The theatre will be called the Penn Squan. Hitching Post and will have three changes a week, double features, at a 30-cent top ad mission price. The popularity of an all-Westen| bill has been proved in Hollywood, where th<| Hitching Post has been operating these man} years, drawing steady patronage to its horse operas from the film capital's workers anc residents. Men at Work DISCARDED clothes and overalls are com mon sights in executive offices of exchanges anO supply houses on Chicago's Film Row thes< days. The shortage of help and constant turnover has called for the services of the top executives in packing and shipping rooms or many occasions. Hence the working clothes which come in verv handv. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 25, 194^