Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1944)

To Renew Legion Pledge Dec. 10 The annual renewal of the Legion of Decency pledge will take place in Catholic churches throughout the United States Sunday, December 10, according to plans made at a meeting of the Bishops' Committee on Motion Pictures held in Washington this week. Monsignor John J. McClafferty of New York, executive secretary of the National Legion of Decency, told the meeting that the Legion had reviewed a total of 429 films between, November, 1943, and November, 1944. Of the total reviewed, Monsignor McClafferty said, 191 pictures, or 44.52 per cent, were Class Al pictures, or unobjectionable for general patronage; 184, or 42.89 per cent, were Class AH, unobjectionable for adults ; 51, or 11.89 per cent, were Class B, objectionable in part, and three, or 0.70 per cent, were Class C, condemned. These statistics, it was said, revealed a decline from the previous year in the percentage of Class Al 'film. In 1943, Class Al films were 52.16 per cent of all reviewed. They indicate an increase in the percentage of Class All films. In 1943, Class All pictures were 34.40 per cent of all reviewed. There was a slight decrease in the Class B percentage. In 1943, these were 12.55 per cent. Films classified Class C, or condemned, were 0.91 per cent of all those reviewed in 1943. The following members of the Bishops' Committee on Motion Pictures were present at the meeting: Bishop Francis P. Keough, of Providence, chairman ; Bishop John F. Noll, Fort Wayne ; Bishop Joseph H. Albers, Lansing, and Bishop Bryan J. McEntagart, Ogdensburg, N. Y. MGM Office Managers Confer with Cummings Three MGM office managers arrived at the home office last Monday to spend a week conferring with Alan F. Cummings, in charge of exchange operations, and visit all department heads. They are A. J. Mayer, Pittsburgh ; Don S. MacLeon, Indianapolis ; and Edward Susse, Albany. William B. Zoellner, Atlanta, and Louis C. Ingram, Memphis, the last two branch managers scheduled to visit New York, will arrive December 4, while Frank Hensler, Kansas City manager, who visited the home office last week, returned to his headquarters. Because of the success of these visits, Howard Dietz, vice-president and director of advertising, exploitation and publicity, and William R. Ferguson, his exploitation director, have decided to adopt a similar plan for the 34 field exploitation men to visit the home office. Under the plan, two representatives will visit the home office each week starting the first of the year. Delay "Wilson" Dates in Chicago Neighborhoods "Wilson" will not play advanced admission engagements in Chicago neighborhoods until all of the current "Song of Pernadette" dates have been washed up, according to Jack Lorentz, 20thcentury Fox district manager. "Wilson" is still at the Apollo, leased by the producers for this engagement. Milwaukee neighborhood houses already are playing "Wilson" at $1.10 top, since the "Bernadette" competition situation no longer prevails there. Hornblow Heads Group Producer Arthur Hornblow, Jr., has been elected president of the Free World Association of Hollywood, succeeding Dudley Nichols, writer, whose term has expired. Decency Legion Reviews Four New Pictures The National Legion of Decency this week classified four new pictures as follows : In Class A-2, unobjectionable for adults, are "Army Wives," "Missing Juror." In Class B, objectionable in part : "Faces in the Fog," "Together Again." New French Film Has Wide Appeal The talent and genius of French motion picture' production were not completely surpressed during the four years of Nazi rule, according to the French Press and Information Service, which screened a feature picture, "Pontcarral," in New York last week. The film is one of the approximately 200 pictures produced during the German occupation, and, according to the French organization, one of several not inspired or dominated by the influence of the Nazis. In this country there is only one print of "Pontcarral" with French dialogue and as yet no release arrangements have been made. Pierre Blanchar produced "Pontcarral," which is an adaptation of an historical novel by Alberieli Cahuet. The story is that of a soldier of the Em^ pire, who after the defeat of Napoleon, remained faithful to the memory of his Emperor and fought| against the reestablishment of the monarchy. There are many ideas expressed in the film that are subtle attacks on the Nazis. Among these are allusions to organized looting, collaborationists, fifth column activities and censorship. A parallel can be drawn between the France of Pontcarral and the France dominated by the Germans. Remarkable technical achievements are manifest. The sets, both interior and exterior, are magnificent and impressive, and clever techniques are employed in dissolves and lighting effects. The film has a large cast, all extremely capable. "Pontcarral," a production of high caliber, is art interesting and noteworthy picture to emerge from a Nazioccupied country. — M. R. Y. ■ Mrs. Mina Kohlmar Dies Funeral services for Mrs. Mina Kohlmar,, 70,1 wife of Lee Kohlmar, veteran actor, and motheri of Fred Kohlmar, Paramount producer, were held November 26 at the Riverside Funeral Chapel, New York. Mrs. Kohlmar died November 21. ~ MOTION PICTURE C/i/ncs'Reyifim fJonuary /, (945 fhru December 3/, /945) /CRITICS, tike individuals in on audience, /differ in their likes and dislikes. For ^ this reason we have not confined our reports lo one or two. /nsfead, we give complete reviews of the 8 critks from the major New York newspapers. These are the critics who report the motion pictures to over 10 million people. HOWARD BARNES ALTON COOK BOSLEY CROWTHER ROSE PELSWICK rtero/d Tribune WorM Te/egrom rimei Journal American KATE CAMERON EILEEN CREELMAN JOHN T. McMANUS ARCHER WINSTEN Daily News Sun "P M" Pott Every week the complete reviews of these critics, EXACTLY as they originally appeared in the eight great New York newspapers, will be sent you ready to be inserted in the beoutiful blue 1945 covers. HAVE THIS INFORMATION AT YOUR FINGERTIPS! Know accurately the complete cast, author, director, orodocer, story and running lime. An absolute MUST for theatre owners, bookers, film buyers and especiolly tor publicity men and theatre managers. Yearly Subscription $15.00 FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY WE WILL SEND, FREE OF CHARGE, THE COMPLETE 1944 VOLUME WITH EACH 1945 SUBSCRIPTION N. Y. MOTION PICTURE CRITICS' REVIEWS 235 Eost 22nd Street, New York !0, N. Y, Pleose send me. weekly, ttie motion picture reviews from New York's eight leoding newspapers from January I, 1945 to December 31, 1945, (usually $15.) PLUS the complete IV44 volume, (usually $20.) I enclose check [H, or money order □, for only $15 for BOTH YEARS. This includes covers for both. Nome Cfty , Zone .S(ole_ 48 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 2. 1944