Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1945)

RKO TO PRODUCE IN FRANCE VIA PATHE Trans-Lux Plan New York Housi Deal Includes Release of French Films by RKO in Other Countries RKO Radio Pictures will produce pictures in France through a subsidiary company set up for that purpose, Phil Reisman, vice-president and foreign sales manager of RKO Radio Pictures, announced Tuesday, in New York. The company has concluded an agreement with the French Pathe Cinema, a subsidiary of which is Gaumont, a large theatre operating company, for the production of pictures in France, the exhibition of French films in other countries, and the exhibition of American films in France. The distributing company will be called Pathe-RKO in France and her colonies. It will be known as RKO-Pathe in other countries. Its general manager will be Marcel Gental, now general manager in France for RKO. Much of Mr. Reisman's interview was devoted to conditions in France. He said food and clothing were scarce, that many other items were absent, and that fuel was the most pressing need. He compared the horrors of war at the front nearby, of which he had heard, and the damage in France, which he had seen, with the attitude of the people in the U. S., and said it gave him an "empty feeling" when he heard complaints about the curfew. Cites Hardships in France "I would like to be able to deliver a message publicly to the American people to be patient with the French," he said. "They may make statements which seem bad, but it is hard to think clearly when you have not enough food. "They are making brave efforts to get their motion picture industry started again," he added, "and they are extremely anxious to cooperate with the Americans. The name calling I hear in this country is not founded on fact at all. After all, their desire for distribution of their films in this country is understandable. They've absorbed all of ours ; and, outside of a few art theatres, there's been no real distribution of theirs here — there's been no real effort to help them." Theatre business is "terrific," Mr. Reisman said. The average theatre admission is about 40 francs, which, at the pre-war rate, is about two dollars. French film people in the underground movement managed to hide important equipment, so that the studios start off well, he said. Many films were also hidden. Eastman Factory Functioning He added that the Eastman film factory in Paris had produced, since liberation day there, approximately 5,613,000 feet of raw stock, which is being parceled out to the Office of War Information, the British Ministry of Information, American film companies, and native producers. In Great Britain, where he spent most of the five weeks abroad, and presided at a convention of company personnel, Mr. Reisman spoke with J. Arthur Rank, British film leader. "This fellow Rank, in my opinion, is a credit to the whole industry," he said, "and he should be encouraged. He's learning the business very rapidly. When he visits the United States in May he is going to make a fine impression." Skirball Plans Three Pictures, Budgeted at $4,500,000 Jack Skirball, independent producer releasing through United Artists, will produce three films within the next 14 months, budgeted at $4,500,000, he disclosed in New York last weekend before his departure for the coast. Mr. Skirball was in New York for conferences on "It's in the Bag," a May 1 release, with UA sales executives and William Home, his eastern sales representative, and Lou Goldberg, his eastern advertising and publicity representative. He also has finished "What Every Woman Wants," made in association with Sam Wood, starring Claudette Colbert and Don Ameche. His first new production, "A Genius in the Family," will start in June, with Don Ameche starred. The other two will be "On Approval" and "French Town." Mr. Skirball said he probably would continue to release through UA and was discussing a renewal deal with the company. He anticipates no raw stock difficulty because he made more pictures in 1941 than this year. Mr. Skirball said that he and Bruce Manning had signed Don Ameche to an exclusive three-year contract. Jackter Named Chairman Of Montague Campaign Rube Jackter, assistant general sales manager of Columbia, was announced this week as chairman of the committee in charge of the "Montague Twentieth Anniversary Campaign." The drive, which will continue 15 weeks to June 28, got under way March 16. Mr. Jackter is currently completing plans for a series of contests to be applied as the campaign progresses. Awards will be set up to include all company branch managers, salesmen and bookers. A committee of nine sales executives to assist Mr. Jackter includes : Louis Weinberg, Louis Astor, M. J. Weisfeldt, H. C. Kaufman, George Josephs, Maurice Grad, Vincent Boreill, Seth Raisler and Sidney Singerman. Pacific Coast Independents Hit "Profits" on U. S. Films A resolution assailing use of Government films for private profits, and citing "The Fighting Lady," distributed by Twentieth Century-Fox, as an alleged case in point, was passed last week by trustees of the Pacific Coast Conference of Independent Theatre Owners, meeting in Hollywood. The resolution charged film companies now were bidding for similar control of a picture on the Iwo Jima invasion, and it asked the services to distribute the films through the normal OWI-WAC channels. Bette Davis Earned Highest Warner Salary Last Year The highest paid employee of Warner Brothers last year was Bette Davis, according to the annual report filed March 13 with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Miss Davis received $241,083 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1944. Other salaries reported by Warners included Barbara Stanwyck, $223,333; Rosalind Russell, $202,500, and James Cagney, $183,652. Mr. Cagney was described as "former employee and participant in gross receipts of certain other pictures." Pal Announces Shorts For Television George Pal, producer of the Puppetoon series of short subjects for Paramount, told the trade in New York Monday he was negotiating with several firms on the production of entertainment and commercial shorts for television during the postwar period. 3jeit The second move in its post-war expansioi gram was disclosed recently by the Tran: Corporation with the announcement that it build a 600-seat theatre on Madison Avenue 60th Street, New York, when the Office of Requirements gives the green light for such struction. Last December Trans-Lux announced it ' erect a 13-story office building and 2,000-sea: run feature house in Washington, D. C, ea the post-war period. The contemplated New York theatre will the east side of Madison Avenue, opposite the ent Trans-Lux, also of 600 seats, which oper November, 1933. When the new theatre is; structed, one house will play features with i reels and shorts while the other will show newsreels and shorts. Trans-Lux, meanwhile, is looking for other tions for new theatres, according to Norma Elson, general manager. These new sites a not be confined necessarily to the east, Mr. said, but might be in the middle and far west, ther acquisitions of theatre sites might be exf to be announced shortly, he added. The circuit currently operates seven houses in New York and one in Boston showing fe£ with newsreels and shorts, and four playing i reels and shorts. Two of this category a New York, and one each in Philadelphia Washington. Theatre television would be installed ii Trans-Lux houses according to whatever p£ that medium took in the post-war era, Mr said. WPB Eases Non-Military Ore J On Photographic Equipment Manufacturers of restricted photographic e: ment and accessories have been authorized bt War Production Board to fill non-military o| for less than $500 without special authorizati< preference rating. The WPB explained that while the prefe was not now required on orders for less than only high ratings assured prompt delivery. O bearing AA-4 and lower ratings are frequ delayed as much as 12 or 18 months. Included among the photographic equipmei which the restrictions are relaxed are motion pi cameras, projectors other than 35mm, earner; cessories, eight and 16mm projection accessi and mounted lenses, except those for 35mm j ectors. Decency Legion Reviews Five New Pictures The National Legion of Decency this weel viewed five new films, approving four and clas ing one as objectionable in part. In Class A-2,i objectionable for adults, are: "Dillinger," "A a Pal and a Gal," "Swingin' on a Rainb| "Three's a Crowd." In Class B, objectionab1 part : "Affairs of Susan." Loew Toronto Sets Dividend Marcus Loew's Theatres, Ltd., operating Loew houses in Toronto, has declared a !j dend on common shares, payable March 31. similar payment was made late in 1944. The r lar one and three-quarter per cent dividend the seven per cent preference shares for the rent quarter also has been declared, to be pai( the same date. For 15 years, until last Autt there had been no common dividend. RKO Pays $1.50 Dividend The board of directors of Radio-Keith-Orph Corporation at a meeting held Tuesday, M; 20, 1945, declared a dividend of $1.50 per shan its six per cent preferred stock payable Ma; 1945, to holders of record at the close of busii on April 20, 1945. The payment will be the r« lar dividend for the current quarter, which end April 30, 1945. 40 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, MARCH 24, I !