Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1944)

WARNERS TO QUIT MPPDA NEXT MAY Long Controversy Ends This Time in Official Letter of Resignation Assuming no interventions or changes, Warner Brotliers Pictures, Inc., will cease to be a member of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, Inc., and its Hollywood affiliate the Association of Motion Pictures Producers, Inc., May 30 next year. Official notice was conveyed in legal forms accompanying a letter from Harry M. Warner to Will H. Hays, in New York. The development comes after a long sequence of controversies and an ever continuing and growing disaffection. There have been rumors and rumblings, both "in camera" and in print, mainly among the outgivings of the columnists, for several years. Last week's development received marked and extensive attentions from the newspaper press across the land, with coverage from all the press associations and special correspodents. Production Code Lauded The larger attentions, accompanied by speculative copy, came from those writers and sources which have been conspicuous in recording clashes and adventures of the Production Code and its administration in Hollywood. Significantly in this connection, the Production Code and its operation enjoyed a most especially laudatory attention in Mr. Warner's expression. The differences are plainly not in that quarter. Mr. Warner has indicated in his communication that the resignation is entirely an institutional move, not a personal gesture or expression. "It is only fair to state that the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, Inc., in many respects has well served the motion picture industry and the public," Mr. Warner said in his letter. "One noteworthy accomplishment was the establishment of the Production Code, which has guaranteed to the American public motion pictures of a high standard of morality and decency. . . . We will continue to support the Production Code and will continue to submit all our scripts and pictures to the Production Code Administration for review. . . ." Will Continue Own Research "In the future Warner Brothers, will continue its own studies and research in the development of the motion picture as an art and as an educational and civilizing influence. We shall also continue to support to our utmost the War Activities Committee. . . . We will cooperate with other motion picture companies whenever and wherever such cooperation can further the public interest. . . . Our personal relations with you have always been most pleasant and we will continue to have for you personally the very highest esteem and regard." An Associated Press dispatch indicated that the controversy was brought to a climax over production of "Hollywood Canteen" and "This Is the Army" in a quotation from Jack L. Warner in Hollywood. "Every dollar of the profits was turned over to the Army Emergency Relief and the productions were planned as philanthropic ventures by us. Instead of receiving the wholehearted support of the Hollywood guilds — particularly the Screen Actors 14 Guild — every obstacle was cast in our path to overload our production budget. . . . Eventually we settled a $250,000 suit with the Screen Actors Guild out of court, but the settlement was in no way due to the Hay's office. We were entitled to 100 per cent support from the Hay's office and its membership in that fight and we did not get it." The Guild had insisted that talent in the two productions be paid at regular salary rates. The first manifestations of differences which became to a degree public were in 1937 when Warners stopped payment of dues to the Hays office for several months. Since then there have been recurrent ripples of reverberation on various texts of difference. AMPP Accepts Warner Exit; Freeman Resumes Post The resignation of Warner Bros, was accepted, effective May 30, 1945, and Y. Frank Freeman was persuaded to resume his presidency at the meeting this week of the Association of Motion Picture Producers, the Hollywood affiliate of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America. Mr. Freeman previously had declined reelection, but returned to the post after unanimous request by the directors. By-laws of the organization require six-months notification of resignation. Reminded of this regulation, Warner Bros, drafted a new withdrawal note to conform. Allen Wilson was elected to the board representing Republic Productions. A resolution of condolence was adopted and dispatched to Watterson Rothacker, vice-president of Quigley Publishing Company, whose wife died last Friday. Mr. Rothacker is on leave to serve as West Coast director of the Office of War Censorship. Warner Sees U. S. Officials About Educational Films Harry M. Warner, president of Warner Bros., conferred with Government officials in Washington Monday and Tuesday on the possible use of the screen for postwar education at home and abroad. He returned to New York Tuesday night. Mr. Warner met with Judge Samuel Rosenman, special counsel to President Roosevelt ; Joseph E. Davies, former Ambassador to Russia and now chairman of the President's War Relief Control Board, high officials of the War and Navy departments and others. They discussed the use of educational films by the military services during the war and the possible projection of these and other film uses into the future. For more than a year Warner executives have been interested in furthering the production and distribution, both domestic and world-wide, of education films on post-war rehabilitation subjects for the United Nations. Australian Minister Praises Industry War Contribution Repeating the message he earlier had presented to Hollywood executives Senator, the Honorable Richard V. Keane, Australian Minister for Trade and Customs, extended his appreciation this week for American help to his country in the war efl^ort. The occasion was a luncheon at the Harvard Qub in New York, hosted by the international department of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America. Mr. Keane praised the industry for providing gift films to the war areas, terming them a powerful source of morale for the troops. _ In addition to executives of the MPPDA international department, present were David Baily, William Dunk, Louis McGregor, F. McNeill Ackland and Albert Doyle in the Keane party. Enlist Exhibitors In Manpower Drive in Illinois Illinois exhibitors last week were delegated by Mayor Edward J. Kelly to spearhead the current drive to send more men into war plants suffering acute manpower shortages. Mayor Kelly, meeting with War Manpower Commission, said he could think of no other single industry which had done so much to aid in war activities and which could do an equally good job in recruiting workers. During the meeting Mayor Kelly requested the committee to contact Jack Kirsch, president of Allied of Illinois, to relate the story to the 150 exhibitor members in that territory. When informed, Mr. Kirsch responded enthusiastically. Mayor Kelly is of the opinion that the neighborhood exhibitor, familiar with many of his regular customers, can contact them personally to urge them either to change to essential employment or to assume, additionally, a part time job in a vital industry. In the Boston area, a tightening of the male employment situation was indicated this week by the announcement of the Metropolitan Boston War Manpower Commission that men workers who quit essential or non-essential jobs would be required to find war jobs. The regulation applies to 43 cities and towns and was to go into effect this Saturday. See FCC Allocation Report Delayed Until January The Federal Communications Commission does not expect to report its findings on new radio frequency allocations until after mid-January. The great bulk of testimony is delaying the recommendations, originally scheduled for December, it was reported this week. The State Department, which was to use the report as a basis for discussions on international allocations next year,", had asked the commission to submit its recom' mendations about December 1. The commission had scheduled the hearings, which concluded November 2 in Washington, with that in view. The Radio Manufacturers Association told its members last week it had been advised "several or moreweeks" would be required for a report on which "intensive work by the FQC staff" is being done.i Loew's Sets Extra Common Dividend, Plans Split Directors of Loew's, Inc., at a meeting Wednes-; day in New York declared a regular dividend ofj 50 cents and an extra dividend of $1.50 per share on the common stock, payable December 30 toj stockholders of record December 19. This brings j the total dividend for the calendar year to $41 per share. j The board recommended a plan to cancel all authorized preferred stock and to increase aui, thorized common stock from 4,000,000 to 6,000,OOC shares. ; A special meeting of stockholders will be callec soon and if the plan is approved, it is proposec to split the present common stock on a three for one basis with the intention of placing the new' common stock on a dividend basis of $1.50 annually' "It's True," Says Johnston Of MPPDA Offer Report Confirmation of reports that Eric Johnston' president of the U. S. Chamber of Commerce, hat' been offered a high executive post with the Mo; tion Picture Producers and Distributors of Amer ica came in two words to newsmen this weel' The Los Angeles Examiner reported that whe asked if he had been made such an offer, Mi Johnston replied: "Yes, it's true." Reports hav been current for several months that Mr. John ston is being sought for an important positio! with MPPDA either for Hollywood or for Wash' ington. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 9, \<)}\.