Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1945)

THIS WEEK IN THE NEW The Day in Hollywood HOLLYWOOD on V-Day will know what to do. Last autumn, it drew a uniform observance policy. Firstly, according to the Motion Picture Producers Association, "it has been decided that V-Day and V-Hour must be determined by a confirmed official statement that organized resistance by Germany has ceased. To avoid confusion, studio employees are to remain at their jobs until dismissed by proper authority. Studios will receive the official flash from the Association offices." Then, if V-Hour occurs before 12 noon on any weekday, studios will close that day. If it occurs after noon, they will close that and the following day. If it occurs Sunday, studios will close Monday ; if Saturday, however, studios will open Monday. Noting the economics of the thing, important in Hollywood, the producers guarantee a minimum work call to all employees at work when V-Hour occurs ; and that calls for which they had not reported at V-Hour will be postponed to the following day. Central Casting will close V-Minute, it expects. Rivals in Morale AN investigation of film and photographic print paper shortages is still being considered in Washington, according to Movie Makers magazine which says in its April issue that two Congressmen are doodling with the idea, and that pressure for the investigation is being applied, considerably, by the National Photographic Dealers Association. The magazine, which is primarily for amateurs of tlie 16mm film width, says also in the April issue, that the photographic dealer, he of the empty shelves and the black market, is "also disturbed by Hollywood." "Many dealers," it remarks, ". . . are confused by Hollywood's cry of 'morale' when any one questions the essentiality of any part of the theatrical motion picture industry ; and the dealers wonder vaguely what Hollywood has that compares in morale value to snapshots that enable a soldier fighting far from his loved ones to see them as they are today, to watch his children grow, and to see again the surroundings that he is fighting fiercely to get back to." Tell Our Story ONE OF the current activities of the Office of War Information is directed to convincing Europeans, particularly those who have been under the news blackout for the past five years or more, that America is a center of culture as well as a nation of gigantic war production and war-waging accomplishments. It is using increased leverage to uproot the "unfortunate" impressions that cultural advancement lags centuries behind industrial development in the United States. Edward N. Barrett, OWI overseas director, declared April 6 in Washington that the European division had undertaken to be instigator and "transmission belt" for early renewal of private and organizational contacts between CARRIER truck crisis gives exhibitor new operating problem Page 13 SENATE committee to investigate exhibitor monopoly complaints Page 16 PARAMOUNT estimates net profit for year 1944 at $16,488,000 Page 16 OPEN preliminary barrage for "Showmen's Seventh" War Loan drive Page 17 ON THE MARCH— Red Kann discusses WPB print ceiling relaxation Page 20 SERVICE DEPARTMENT Book Review Page 24 Hollywood Scene Page 27 In the Newsreels Page 25 Managers' Round Table Page 41 IN PRODUCT DIGEST SECTION Showmen's Reviews Page 2401 Short Subjects Page 2402 Advance Synopses Page 2403 O'CONNELL, curfew-defying exhibitor, gi ground, but still fights Page CHICAGO theatres hang on to duals, the public demands them Page CIO lists motion pictures which sell public its way of life Page GAINSBOROUGH product setting reccj in many British theatres Page MAJOR companies refuse answers to que in Consent Decree suit Page Obituaries Page Picture Grosses Pag« Shorts at First Runs Pag« What the Picture Did for Me Page Short Subjects Chart Page Service Data Page The Release Chart Page America and Europe. The OWI is coordinating related activities with the Department of State on the assumption that the latter will take over when, and if, Congress provides legislation for a world-wide cultural relations program after the war. Moving into the Balkans and Russia's sphere of influence, the OWI overseas film bureau, which has been distributing entertainment and documentary films in Greece, has extended that activity to Bulgaria and Rumania. Films, superimposed in native languages, OWI documentaries and United Newsreels have been shipped to these areas where, it is assumed, they will be shown along" with Russian films. Beleagured Exaggera Hon WELL, that Japanese canard didn't succeed. Deanna Durbin is alive, and still acting. The Filipinos can see, in American films. They jammed the reopened Times Theatre in Manila at the invitational premiere the evening of March 31, and at eight in the morning the following day and from then on. Many stood outside, unable to get seats. The picture was "His Butler's Sister," with Pat O'Brien, and Miss Durbin. The Japanese had reported Miss Durbin dead. The showing was the first American film in the Philippines since January 2, 1942, when the Japanese seized Manila. The Times is the only first run theatre there intact. It is operating now for civilians from 8:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M., and for service men in the evenings. Only six of the approximately 90 Manila houses can be put into operation soon, the Office of War Information estimates. Altogether, only 17 may be restored. PRESSURES under which motion picture: produced; forces that complain of scenes do not like, that urge material favorabl' their cause, that charge sins of omission — t are given a going over in the May issu Esquire by Don Carle Gillette. Laborin1 the vineyard of the brothers Warner, in York headquarters, Mr. Gillette writes acquaintance with the facts. Some of the pressures he relates : Members of the Society for the Prevei of Cruelty to Animals who complain of consorting with criminals, carpet manufa ers who object to carpets in houses of sreputation, people who object to a screen cf nal owning a dog with the name of their cigar manufacturers who want fewer cigai^ smoked on the screen, objections by' WCTU to drinking scenes ; film mutilatio state and municipal censors, official andi official reviewing committees, approval of day shows only after charity organization: granted a portion of the proceeds, newsp; which object to scenes showing reporters ing a drink, underwear manufacturers wh( ject to undershirtless heroes, and the none gentle attention from the Government, ii{ and organized uplift movements. Share the Smokes A SMALL open box containing cigar placed on one of the counters in the Cinci Variety Club, bears the sign : "If you hav cigarettes, take one. If you have some, pu or two in the box for the person who has n More cigarettes are being deposited than jthH drawn, the club steward reports. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, APRIL 14 945