Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1944)

1 COMPANIES WILL RELEASE 50 THROUGH JANUARY late of Release Slower as Backlogs Gain; Special Handling for Big Films For the half-way mark of the new season, om September 1 through January, 11 comtanies will have released 150 pictures compared 191 released for the same period last season, epresenting a reduction of 41. Distributors are going to market this year riore slowly in terms of release than they did ast season, and backlogs still are top-heavy ith finished product. Special handling of the g budget productions and block-leaders to et the full tide of the war boom market while it lasts is the most significant single factor in (his year's merchandising, j The policy of pre-release engagements, a pattern set two seasons ago, will be continued on I greater scale. Fewer reissues are scheduled Ihis season, compared to IsLst. More Than Half of Product Already in Release More than half the product promised by the II companies for 1944-45 is in release, comoleted or awaiting release, or in production at ;his point in the season's trading. A total of 462 features was announced or tentatively planned by the distributors before the season oegan. A total of 181 features is on the backlog or now in production which, added to 150 films released or scheduled through January, amounts to 331 pictures earmarked for delivery. Not all of the 181 finished or shooting will be delivered tliis season, however. A number of pictures in this category have been on the backlog for over a year, as in the case of sev(cral Paramount and Warner features. I The significance of this analysis of the proliduction and release charts of the 11 companies ibrought comment from sales managers. Not Holding Product Back, Says Rodger s William F. Rodgers vice-president in charge of distribution for MGM, observed that he could "speak only for Metro. We are releasing the same number of pictures this year as we did last year," he said. "I can only talk for my company. We are not holding back product. We have no pictures on the backlog from last year." Neil Agnew, vice-president and general sales manager for Vanguard Films : '"The market cannot digest the number of pictures producers used to make before the war. Every sales manager of a major company has changed his plea to his studio. Before the war, he would ask for "more pictures', but now it's 'less pictures', because he just cannot market more. While it is true that holdovers are preventing suburban and neighborhood theatres from getting sufficient product, in the long run, the dollar volume of business today makes up for the headaches." E. T. Gomersall, assistant general sales manager. Universal : "It is our purpose and intention to produce and release our full product as announced for this season. Thus far, we have released a picture a week, the same as last year." Arthur Sachson, assistant general sales manager, Warners: "Speaking for Warner Bros., Product Inventory for First 3 Months 1944-45 Films Product 1943-44 Films Company Released Through Completed Promised for Released Through January, 1945, Or Shooting 7944-45 January, 7944 Columbia 15a 21 58 i6 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer .... I Ob 26g 36 15 Monogram 13 7 47 II Paramount 16c 17 25-30 I7h PRC Pictures 17 6 40-45 15 RKO Radio 13d 20 50 I7i Republic 12 22 64 23i Twentieth Century-Fox I5e 12 28 19 United Artists 7f 10 32 .12 Universal 23 20 62 27 Warner Bros 9 20 20-25 19k 150 181 462-477 191 a, b, c, e, f, Includes one special; d, includes three specials; g, includes 10 films and one special to be announced; h and i, include two specials; j, includes two reissues; k, includes nine reissues. I would say we are releasing the same number as we did last season. By the time the 12 months are up, this will be true, discounting, of course, any reissues. We are not releasing less pictures." Harry Gold, eastern division sales manager for United Artists : "Any intelligent analysis of the current situation would reveal that companies are not holding back pictures. Producers are giving the market everything that it can absorb. It just takes more to make big pictures. While it is true that companies are making bigger and fewer films, it is also true that lack of stars, release limitations on films made from plays and other factors have dictated fewer releases, not any concerted policy on the part of the majors to hold back product. There are a lot of pictures around waiting to be sold. These pictures might be the same type that was produced in quantity before the war by the major companies." Columbia, Paramount, RKO, Republic, Universal and Warner Bros, lead the companies in heavy production schedules with each carrying 15 to 20 or more films completed or shooting. Release Dates Scheduled Well in Advance MGM, with a block of nine in release, including two reissues and one special, probably will announce this week its next block, indicated to consist of 10 more features and one special, "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo." Paramount and RKO already have set their next blocks-of-five. Twentieth Century-Fox has announced release dates through May. Warners have scheduled dates up to February ; Columbia, through December ; Monogram, through March ; PRC Pictures, February ; Republic, December ; United Artists, January, and Universal, through January. Analysis of the 11 companies' release charts shows the following breakdown of features released, completed or in production : COLUMBIA Dates set from September to the end of December for 14 pictures. One Special, "A Song to Remem ber," starring Merle Oberon and Paul Muni, has not yet been scheduled. Pictures completed or in work: "Sagebrush Heroes," "Rough Ridin' Justice," "Tonight and Every Night," "Return of the Durango Kid," "Rustlers of the Badlands," "Prairie Raiders," "Both Barrels Blazing," "Blazing the Western Trail," "One Against Seven," "Eadie Was a Lady," "Sing Me a Song of Texas," "Lawless Empire," "Let's Go Steady," "Our Wandering Daughters," "I Love a Mystery," "Leave It to Blondie," "Thousand and One Nights," "Men of the Deep," "A Guy, a Gal and a Pal," and an untitled "Crime Doctor." METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER Ten films made up the first block of the season, i;icluding two reissues, "Waterloo Bridge" and "Naughty Marietta." One special, "Dragon Seed," has been released thus far. The following 11 pictures, several of which have been trade shown, including "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo," which probably will be sold as a special, are expected to make up the company's next block : "Meet Me in St. Louis" and "National Velvet," both in Technicolor ; "Thin Man Goes Home," "Music for Millions," "Nothing But Trouble," "This Man's Navy," "Gentle Annie," "Blonde Fever," "Between Two Women" and "Main Street After Dark." Completed or in work : "Secrets in the Dark," "The Picture of Dorian Gray," "Ziegfeld Follies," "Son of Lassie," "Anchors Aweigh," "The Clock," "Thrill of a Romance," "Women's Army," "Hold High the Torch," "Valley of Decision," "Without Love," "Our Vines Have Tender Grapes," "Weekend at the Waldorf" and "Alter Ego." MONOGRAM Thirteen films have been set through January ; one is shooting, "Make Way for Kelly," and the following have dates scheduled through March : "They Shall Have Faith," "The Cisco Kid Returns," "Gun Smoke," "John Dillinger," "G. I. Honeymoon" and "Little Devils." PARAMOUNT With one special, a reissue, "Sign of the Cross," and two blocks-of-five ir release, Paramount has set its third block, which ini.Iud'^s "Practically Yours," "Here Come the Waves," 'Double Exposure," "Dangerous Passage" and "Fo. Whom (Continued nn following page, column 1) MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 25, 1944 13