Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1945)

CEA REPORT CITES YEAR OF PROBLEMS British Exhibitors Warned That War's End Will Not Mean End of Headaches by PETER BURNUP in London The end of the Cinematograph Exhibitors' Association official year finds the association in a self-congratulatory mood. As well it might, for exhibitors in the war's fifth year stood up manfully to a multitude of misfortunes and tribulations which might well have overwhelmed them. Amiable, diplomatic W. R. Fuller, the association's general secretary, covers a vast territory in his annual report to the members ; ranging from quota to that famous monopoly report, taking in stride such other ticklish circumstances as raw stock and carbon shortages, admission of children to theatres, film-hire squabbles, relations with labor and Sunday opening, and so forth. Membership Rose to 4,525 Mr. Fuller records that in the course of the year, membership of the association rose from 4,493 to 4,525 ; that collections in the nation's cinemas in aid of the Prisoners of War Fund increased from £300,000 to £389,000; that the theatres contributed £21,000 odd to the industry's Benevolent Fund. It is a tale of considerable credit and Mr. Fuller is justified in his ultimate summing up. Reviewing" the year's achievement, he says : "The year 1944 was a year in which labor and every manufactured commodity began to be acutely short and but for the constant watchfulness of your general council, its officers and its officials, there is no doubt that many a cinema would have found itself in difficulty. "Flying bombs and later, rocket bombs, have added to the difficulties of London and Southern England, but every cinema that can remain open remains open. "With victory in sight it is not too early to remind members that the association has done marvelous work in enabling them to keep open during the whole of the war and free from restriction other than what has been necessary on account of shortage of materials. It has been an achievement of which the various wartime General Councils can feel proud and deserving of the gratitude of the members. Asks Effort Not Be Forgotten "Without expecting too much and while sensible of the confidence the general council enjoys among the members of the association, it can at least be hoped that these efforts will not be forgotten too soon and that their memory may live for at least a few years. "The war has yet to be won, and at a time when shortage of everything commercial becomes more pronounced from month to month. If the concluding months of war synchronize with an increasing irritation and exasperation let it be attributed to war-weariness and, not to non-existent difficiencies of your new general council. "Nor should the thought of victory suggest that present troubles will forthwith disappear. On the contrary, progressive difficulties may be expected, but the certainty that persists is the ability of the association, with the support of its 28 members, to overcome any obstacle whatever it may be. "Therefore the note for the future is one of sober confidence." With which sentiments C. E. A.'s rank and file are in hearty accord. Which is not to say that the forthcoming year will not be without its headaches for exhibitors. Just around the corner there loom a host of problems, any one of which may develop suddenly the proportions of a first rate crisis. New Quota Is Disappointing The ordinary workaday exhibitor, for example, is bitterly disappointed that the Board of Trade's president has seen fit, despite the association's representations, to increase as from next year the exhibitors' British picture quota -from 15 to \7l/2 per cent. Despite the blithe optimism exhibited by many producers and their eloquently announced programs of production, exhibitors generally take a gloomy view; declare that they will believe in those promised pictures as and when they see them. The forecast, too, of an impending hub-bub over the entertainment tax finds speedy fulfillment. Keynote of discussions at the C. E. A.'s annual meeting was anxiety, expressed by delegates from every part of the country, over those quite staggering tax burdens which the industry is momentarily called upon to carry. Other considerations which presently will call for careful debate are the reconditioning of blitzed theatres and the rebuilding of those which were completely demolished; the care of film now more than ever imperative by virtue of the raw stock situation, and that old, old problem as to whether and how managers should be allowed to "organize" themselves. Provide for Managers' Section There was a scanty reference to that lastmentioned business at the annual meeting; delegates deciding, in spite of some very vocal opposition, that the association's constitution be amended to provide for a separate "managers only" section. But that won't end the matter, for the National Association of Theatrical and Kine Employees want themselves to cater to the managers, and will fight the proposal to the last ditch. But, nevertheless, the new official year starts with happy omens. Victory, say film men as does everybody else, is on the wing. Peace, they feel, is synonymous with prosperity. Certainly, the association's Victory Year leaders — George Scarborough, president; Fred Prior, vice-president — are well chosen. Both are exhibitors, successful and shrewd, of many years' standing. Both are persons, moreover, of quiet sagacity. Colonel Whitney Receives Decoration in Europe Colonel John Hay Whitney, former director of the motion picture division of the Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs and now chief of the liaison section of the Mediterranean Allied Force, received the Legion of Merit "somewhere in Europe" last week, it was announced. Ballantyne in New Quarters The Ballantyne Company, Omaha, theatre equipment company owned by R. Scott Ballantyne, has moved to new quarters at 1707-11 Davenport Street. British Suggest Interchange of Stars With U. S. London Bureau Wesley Ruggles' recent visit here has brou; into the field of practical politics certain engagi prospects which, so it may be disclosed, althou not officially revealed in London, he discussed w David O. Selznick in America ; nothing less, deed, than the bringing to Britain of Ingrid Bei! man and Shirley Temple. Basis of the proposition originally, made to 1 Selznick and — so it is understood — to other c tinguished producers was that stars should exchanged between the two countries on the knot! for-knock principle ; that is to say that Brit should export to Hollywood, for a period of i ploitation, one of her leading players, America return sending here, for a casual ' picture or tv| one of her better-known stars. British Actors Unknown in U. S. The degree of naivete in that suggestion does command discussion this side nowadays for one more than Mr. Rank (after his study of tailed despatches from his ambassadors) is aw; that another, maybe the first, thing that's wrc with Britain's films is that American audien know less than nothing of the actors who app< therein. Latest instance, to wit, is Felix Aylrr | who gives a superb performance in "Mr. Emm; uel." Mr. Aylmer has long been famous on London West End stage ; has been no less no worthy in a series of sensitive contributions British made films. David Rose, Sam Goldwyn and a number other equally qualified deponents, declare that 1 the appropriate steps been taken forthwith to corporate, him as a supporting player in a success of Hollywood pictures, the actor would rate natf wide approval in the United States. Nothing, fact, was done in this regard. That's not to say, however, that Mr. Rank \ do nothing in the future. Cornerstone in the over-all agreement he ne. tiated last Spring with Spyros P. Skouras, 2 Century-Fox president, was a measure of prod tion reciprocity. One of the major objects of summons here of Jock Lawrence was the initiat of ways and means discussions for a more fruit exploitation of Britain's better known actors y< side ; primary requisite of which is clearly tl appearance in Hollywood-made films. Nominated for priority in the exchange ros are Rex Harrison, Stewart Granger and J< Mills. James Mason, leader in Motion Picp Herald's 1944 Money-Makers' Poll, is cle? destined for Hollywood but the voyage must wr for Mr. Mason's picture engagements crowd 5 themselves certainly until this year's end. Suggest "St. Joan" for Bergman Suggested as an appropriate Ingrid Bergrvehicle here is George Bernard Shaw's "St. Joa which, this long time, Gabriel Pascal has b, threatening to make with Greta Garbo in j title role. Speculation is wild and wide regarding 3, Pascal's movements when he ultimately finis'; with Mr. Shaw's "Caesar," whose outside u| currently, is engaged in Egypt getting those Ui mate background shots. There must be a feeling about G.B.S., for 0t recently Mr. Pascal confided that it was he, <i only he, who would make "St. Joan" when j g time came, and that with English actress, Debo Kerr, in the lead. That's another problem whose ultimate arb,, will be J. Arthur Rank. Lease Fort Wayne Theatre Quimby Theatres, Inc.-, Fort Wayne, Ind., negotiating for a 20-year lease on the Shrine tl tre building there and at the same time have ta a 15-year extension on the lease of the Pal theatre, both in Fort Wayne, it was announ recently by Mrs. Helen Quimby, president. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, APRIL 7, I