Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1945)

Walsh and Casey To Tackle Strike In New York Talk The attention of all factions concerned in the Hollywood studio strike was focused on the east at midweek, with IATSE president Richard F. Walsh and Pat Casey, producers' labor contact, en route to New York for conferences with William Hutcheson, international president of the Carpenters and Joiners Union, and other labor executives. Meanwhile, producers reaffirmed their earlier assertions that production was proceeding steadily, saying that work was being done on 25 features. Sunday in Hollywood, Herbert Sorrell, head of the Conference of Studio Unions, told an all-union meeting, "the strike is 98 per cent won. Walsh is trying for a negotiated peace, but we will hold out for unconditional surrender." Mr. Sorrell, to whom the National War Labor Board last Wednesday addressed its order for immediate return of the strikers to work, was reported not to have answered the request, but met privately last Friday with Edgar J. Mannix, president of the Association of Motion Picture Producers, and Mr. Walsh. Mr. Sorrell reiterated his willingness to abide by an NLRB decision but insisted that producers deal meanwhile with the Set Decorators' Local 1421. Conflicting jurisdictional claims over the Local by the Conference and the IATSE brought about the strike which began March 12. Rebellion flared on Wednesday among the rank and file of IATSE members in Hollywood when they voted overwhelmingly to refuse work outside their own craft. Gaining control of a meeting there, insurgents voted Bill Goodwin, Local 44 president, out of his chair. Last week some 90 per cent of the Screen Actors Guild voted in a mail ballot to ignore the picket lines and fulfill their contracts, thus following the advice of guild officials of the previous week. The Los Angeles Times, in a lead editorial, said the strike "takes the blue ribbon for assininity in wartime labor disputes" and pictured the walkout as marring the notable contribution the industry has made to the war effort. French Film Theatre Strike Ends with Pay Increase The week-old strike of motion picture theatre personnel in Paris and the principal French provincial cities was terminated last Thursday when theatre managers and union members agreed on increased salary scales. The Government exerted efforts to end the strike, "for a living wage," as rapidly as possible, realizing that entertainment was essential for a people living on short rations. The threat by legitimate theatre employees to join the walkout was considered another factor in speeding the settlement. Hawaii Reports $63,710 For March of Dimes Hawaii last week reported a collection of $63,710 in the 1945 March of Dimes drive. Puerto Rico and Canal Zone reported $1,245 and $1,081, respectively. Neither of the three territories had been included in the drive of previous years. Two additional states completed their reports. Vermont collected $7,895, a 24 per cent increase over 1944; North Dakota reported $14,594, a 35 per cent increase. The_ committee, headed by Nicholas M. Schenck, is urging exhibitors to rush through their reports so that state chairmen may complete their accounting. By last weekend only 10 states had made full reports. IN NEWSR EELS MOVIETONE NEWS— Vol. 27, No. 59 — Final battle of Manila; Yanks wipe out last Jap resistance m Philippine capital; Philippine rule restored; MacArthur raises flag over Corregidor. MOVIETONE NEWS— Vol. 27, No. 60— Capture of Cologne. . . . Capture of the bridge at Remagen. . . . American delegates to San Francisco parley. . . . Names in the news— Secretary Wallace learning to fly. . . . Navy heroes being decorated. . . . Henry Kaiser having collection drive for war needs. . . . Notre Dame football team in training. . . . Man O' War 28 years old. NEWS OF THE DAY— Vol. 16, No. 257— Submarine commanders receiving awards. . . . Battle for Cologne. . . . Henry L. Kaiser talks on clothes-gathering for the destitute of Europe. . . . General Montgomery makes awards to Belgians. NEWS OF THE DAY— Vol. 16, No. 258— Crossing the Rhine. . . . Capture of Cologne. . . . Monty sees victory. ... On the road to world security. . ; . U. S submarine heroes honored. . . . Appeal for aid to war victims. PARAMOUNT NEWS — No. 60— The last days of Manila — high points of the drive to victory. PARAMOUNT NEWS— No. 61— Beyond the Rhine. . . . United national clothing collection. . . . What price peace? RKO PATHE NEWS— Vol. 16, No. 62— Victory in Manila — Final stages of Manila battle — Manila's citizens liberated. RKO PATHE NEWS— Vol. 16, No. 63 — Yanks cross Rhine. . . . U. S. prepares for San Francisco conference. . . . Kaiser opens clothing drive. UNIVERSAL NEWS— Vol. 18, No. 383— Manila freed of Jap lomination. UNIVERSAL NEWS— Vol. 18, No. 384 — Allies drive across Rhine to victory. . . . World's eyes on security conference. . . . Kaiser seeks clothing for war victims. r^T I ttt* I i " 1 1 !'" I 11 ALL AMERICAN NEWS— Vol. 3, No. 127— Girls train as graduate nurses. . . . National congress of colored parent -teachers meet. . . . Gov. Dewey signs Ives-Quinn bill — first in TJ. S. . . . Chicago opens new 125-unit housing project. . . . Merchant Marine. . . . Richard Wright, famed author, has new best seller. . . . First Negro WACS • arrive in England. Warners Close First Deal For Spanish-Dubbed Films Warners International has closed its first Spanish-dubbed film deal with the Operadora Circuit of 19 first run and subsequent run theatres in Mexico City, for the first group of 10 films. The companv will inagurate its Latin-American program of dubbed films with the premiere of "To Have and Have Not" on March 31 at the Chapultepec, one of Mexico City's most recently constructed first run theatres. Other dubbed films scheduled to play the Operadora circuit will be "Objective, Burma," "Roughly Speaking," "Hotel Berlin," "God Is My Co-Pilot" and others which have not been released for domestic distribution. Warners does its synchronizing at its coast studio. Mestanza Named Head of PRC Latin American Department The appointment of H. Alban-Mestanza, formerly in charge of foreign language production for Monogram, as head of the PRC Latin American department was announced last week by Roberto D. Socas, PRC's general export manager. Mr. Mestanza, whose appointment took effect immediately, is in charge of all matters pertaining to interAmerican distribution. He also will lay the groundwork for launching PRC's Spanish dubbedin program, which is now in preparation. Crescent Plans New House The Crescent Amusement Company has purchased a site and plans the erection of a new theatre in Huntsville, Ala., as soon as materials are available, according to Fritz Thomas, resident manager. The new house, which will be the fourth of this circuit in Huntsville, will seat 1,500. Players Domina New Production Union in Mexicd by LUIS BECERRA CELIS in Mexico City The players numerically dominate the new labor union organized with the breaking awa six sections of the pioneer union, the Nat Cinematographic Industry Workers, besides m< ly dominating it. That was charged by the ( federation of Mexican Labor, which authorized six sections to quit the union and organize 1 own. The figure was proved by the tabulatior the Labor Ministry, as the law requires, of rr. bers of the new organization. This count revealed that of the total member of the new outfit, the players were by far in majority, numbering 2,166 of a total enrollmen 3,368. The musical composers are next in nun with 224. Third are the adapter's, 185. Then c the musicians, 63, and last the directors and scei ists, 60. This organization, headed by "Cantinflas," been officially registered with the Ministry as Cinematographic Industry Production Union. "Cantinflas" said that he was a non-profe§sk f leader of film labor. He intimated that one of prime reasons for the conflict was resentmenl the laborites, including the players, against bf j bossed, as far as union matters were concen by men who had never really been in the pict ! business in any way. The comedian further i mated that as he and his executive committee w persons who had made money from acting or otl wise serving the industry they did not have to pend upon being labor leaders for a living. V The censors have clamped down on yet anot Mexican picture, "Me he de Comer esa Tuna" Have Eaten This Tuna Fruit"), produced Miguel Zacarias and now in its third week at Cine Alameda, local first run theatre. The cens ordered deleted from the production sequences tl considered slurred the agrarians. V Arturo de Cordoba has arranged to dub in I glish, "La Noche de los Mayas" ("The Night the Mayas"), produced in Mexico in 1935, his fi starring production, tragedy of the Mayas, t scendants of an ancient Mexican race. itfO' Bit "Gaslight" Is Held Over In Santiago, Chile MGM's Spanish-dubbed "Gaslight" has jtj completed its second week at the Metro theal 1 in Santiago, Chile, the company announced tij week, and has been playing to more people th; ij "Gone With the Wind" and "Random Harves 1 two previous MGM record box-office attractior j The film opened recently to record business S the Opera in Buenos Aires and in Lima, Per! a company executive said. Press notices in tli Buenos Aires newspapers, particularly cited till Spanish language synchronization and commend*: MGM on its successful dubbing results, accordit j to the report. Release Film on Copper "A Story of Copper," a new educational fil[ covering nearly every phase of the mining, millin j smelting and refining of the metal, has been r leased by the Bureau of Mines, Department of Id terior, for the free showing to industrial and voc; tional training classes, the armed forces, school clubs, and other organizations, it was announa last week by Dr. R. R. Sayers, director of the Bi reau. Twigg Joins Ohio Circuit William Twigg has resigned from the Paramount sales force in Cleveland to become booker for the Peter Wellman circuit with theatres in Girard, Youngstown and Hubbard. Buy Philadelphia House The Egyptian theatre in suburban Philadelphia was added to the Warner theatre circuit, which took over operation of the house after purchase from Joseph Conway. Buys Four Tampa Theatres Mrs. E. N. Claughton, of the Royal theatr. I Miami, Fla.. has purchasesd the Rialto, Northtowi f Howard and State theatres in Tampa from Butle ! Core of that city. 56 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, MARCH 31, 194 I