Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1944)

Box Office Champions for Month of October Johnston Expects 20% Increase in Monogram Sales A gain of 20 per cent in Monogram sales over last year was predicted by W. Ray Johnston, president, Monday in New York. Income from England, Mr. Johnston added, was expected to increase 33 per cent. These estimates were based on the company's first three months' business in the new season. Mr. Johnston, who attributed the increase to the fact that Monogram was making more pictures in the higher brackets, said the company would reestablish its own Paris sales office as its center of distribution on the Continent. An office has been opened in Mexico City, and expansion in South America is contemplated. Monogram has finished 20 pictures out of its promised 45 for 1944-45, Mr. Johnston said, pointing out that "They Shall Have Faith," a feature dealing with infantile paralysis, has just been completed and will open simultaneously throughout the country during the week of the industry's "March of Dimes" drive, January 25-31. Mr. Johnston, who was accompanied from the coast to New York by George Burrows, vicepresident and treasurer, is currently negotiating with Emanuel and Company, New York, on issuance of 100,000 shares of preferred stock at $10 par value. He said that this new capital would be devoted to "more big pictures," plant expansion, operation of the Mexican office and re-establishment of the Paris office. Monogram stockholders will meet December 6 in Los Angeles to vote approval of the issue and to elect directors and officers. Lichtman Theatres operating 24 houses in Virginia and the District of Columbia, has signed for the Monogram 1944-45 product, according to a recent announcement by Samuel Broidy, general sales manager. Also announced as signing for Monogram product are the Hirach-Gilhool circuit, Utah, and the Inter-State, New Mexico. Leader Franchise Transfer Case to Trial Decennber 6 Trial of the suit of Leader Theatre Corporation, operating the Leader, Brooklyn, against Twentieth Century-Fox and Randforce Amusement Corporation, in which legitimacy of the transfer of a film franchise from one theatre to another would be tested, will begin December 6 in New York Supreme Court. The theatre was bought by Leopold Storch in July, 1944, from Randforce Amusement Corporation, when the house was operated under a Twentieth Century-Fox franchise. It is alleged that the franchise was transferred to another Randforce house and that the plaintiff could not obtain Twentieth Century-Fox product. Loew's Ennployee Insurance Covers 4,350 Workers Loew's Employees Group Insurance Plan, starting its ISth year, has announced in the Loew magazine Lo that 4,350 employees now carry policies for a total insurance coverage of $12,723,000. Since the plan was launched, 540 claims have been paid to beneficiaries of employees, for a total of $1,374,250. The magazine article discloses that the company has contributed more than $400,000 toward paying premiums for employees' insurance to the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company. "Tonnorrow the World" Set for National Preview Tour A series of preview showings throughout the country of "Tomorrow the World," which United Artists will release shortly, have been scheduled by Lester Cowan and his general manager Bernard B. Kreisler. Twelve-year-old Skippy Homeier, who makes his first screen appearance in the film, will appear at the previews. The tour was scheduled to start in Dallas November 24 and continue throughout the country, finally ending in Pittsburgh December 22. ARSENIC AND OLD LACE (Warner Brothers ) Produced and directed by Frank Capra. Screenplay by Julius J. and Philip G. Epstein. From the stage play by Joseph Kesselring. Music by Max Steiner. Director of photography, Sol Polita. Film editor, Daniel Mandell. Art director, Max Parker.' Sound by C. A. Riggs. Dialogue director, Harold Winston. Special effects by Byron Haskin and Robert Burks. Orchestral arrangements by Hugo Friedhofer. Musical director, Leo F. Forbstein. Assistant director, Russ Saunders. Unit manager, Eric Stacey. Cast: Gary Grant, Priscilla Lane, Raymond Massey, Jack Carson, Edward Everett Horton, Peter Lorre, James Gleason. Release date, September 23, 1944. CASANOVA BROWN (RKO Radio International ) Produced by Nunnally Johnson. Directed by Sam Wood. From a play by Floyd Dell and Thomas Mitchell. Director of photography, John Seitz. Musical score, Arthur Lange. Art director. Perry Ferguson. Film editor, Thomas Neff. Set directions, Julia Heron. Cast: Gary Cooper, Teresa Wright, Frank Morgan, Anita Louise, Patricia Collings, Edmund Breon, Jill Esmond. Release date, September I, 1944. KESMET (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer ) Produced by Everett Riskin. Directed by William Dieterle. Screenplay by John Meehan. Based on play by Edward Knoblock. Director of photography, Charles Rosher. Technicolor color director, Natalie Kalmus. Color associate, Henri Jaffa. Musical score, Herbert Stothart. Songs by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg. Orchestral collaboration, Murray Cutter. Art direction, Cedric Gibbons. Set decorations, Edwin B. Willis. Special effects, Wa rren Newcombe. Film editor, Ben Lewis. Cast: Ronald Colman, Marlene Dietrich, James Craig, Edward Arnold, Hugh Herbert, Joy Ann Page, Florence Bates. Release date, October 1944. JANEE (Warner Brothers ) Produced by Alex Gottlieb. Directed by Michael Curtiz. Screenplay by Agnes Christine Johnston and Charles Hoffman. From the play Murphy Buffalo WAC Head Robert T. Murphy, of BufTalo 20th Century, Inc., has accepted the post of War Activities Committee exhibitor chairman for the Bufi^alo exchange territory. Fox Promoted to Major _ Captain Matthew Fox, former Universal executive, has been promoted to the rank of major. He is in Washington awaiting a new assignment. Major Fox left Universal in 1942 to loin the War Production Board as aide to Robert Nathan, planning commission head, before entering the Army. produced by Brock Pemberton, written Josephine Bentham and Herschel V. Williar Jr. Photographed by Carl Guthrie. Art dire tor, Robert Haas. Film editor, Owen Mar Sound by C. A. Riggs. Dialogue directw Frederick De Cordova. Special effects by La '! rence Butler. Set decorations by Georl James Hopkins. Orchestral arrangement \\ Frank Perkins. Musical director, Leo F. For stein. Assistant director, Frank Heath. Ui manager, Eric Stacey. Cast: Robert Huttc; Joyce Reynolds, Edward Arnold, Ann Hardin Robert Benchley, Alan Hale, Clare Fole" ■ Release date, September 2, 1944. SINCE YOU WENT AWAY (United Artists-Selznick) Produced by David O. Selznick. Directed fc John Cromwell. Screenplay by David ( Selznick. Suggested by the book by Margan Buell Wilder. Production designed by Willia L. Pereira. Photographed by Stanley Cort<| and Lee Garmes. Music by Max Steine Settings by Mark Lee Kirk. Special effects b Jack Cosgrove. Supervisirig film editor, Hal C Kern. Interior decoration by Victor A. Ganc elin. Production artists, Joseph McMilla Johnson, A. Leslie Thomas and Frederic Robinson. Assistant production manager, Fre R. Ahern. Assistant director, Lowell J. Farreli Technical adviser, Lt. Col. J. G. Taylor, U. i Army. Cast: Claudette Colbert, Jennif€ Jones, Joseph Cotton, Shirley Temple, Mont Woolley, Lionel Barrymore, Robert Walkej Release date, August 12, 1944. WILSON ( Twentieth Century-Fox ) Produced by Darryl F. Zanuck. Directed b Henry King. Screenplay by Lamar Trot+I Director of photography, Leon Shamroy Technicolor director, Natalie Kalmus; asso date, Richard Mueller. Music, Alfred New man. Technicolor advisors, Ray S. Baker an<i Miles McCahill. Orchestral arrangements, Ed ward Powell. Art direction, Wlard Ihnen anc James Basevl. Set decorations, Thomas Little Film editor, Barbara McLean. Special photo graphic effects, Fred Sersen. Cast: Alexande Knox, Charles Coburn, Geraidlne Fitzgerald ! Thomas Mitchell, Ruth Nelson, Sir Cedrl< Hardwicke, Vincent Price, William Eythe. Nc release date set. New RCA Receiver Shows Images 18 by 24 Inches A revolutionary type of home television receiver which projects an image 18 by 24 inches is reported to have been developed by RCA. Images on pre-war models were eight by 10 inches. Tht experimental receiver was displayed at a preview party by Niles Trammell, president of NBC, or election night before 25 business leaders. According to reports, the new television receiver introduces a new type of flat-headed tube two by three inches in diameter and projects a reflected image on a retractable screen. 38 MOTION PICTURE HERALD. NOVEMBER 25, 1944