Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Feb 1945)

(an from Mars was an eventful week for Orson Welles, ild prodigy and oftimes problem child of the itage, screen and radio. He made his debut as newspaper columnist and lecturer. His first olumn for the New York Post, "Orson Welles' Imanac," appeared Monday on the back page, Ismack against the sport news. That night, he made his debut as a lecturer, under auspices lof the William Morris Agency at the City ICenter theatre. New York, to speak on "The ■'Nature of the Enemy." Several hundred people paid a gross of $2,700, to hear Mr. Welles expound on economic democracy, urge a "world 'citizenship" to replace national citizenship and warn against the dangers of Fascism in North and South America. He talked for an hour and a half, stopping only to mop his brow and pause for breath. After the talk, there was a 20-minute question period during which he tackled hecklers as well as Welles enthusiasts. The actor is scheduled to lecture next in Washington and Chicago and the Morris agency may book him in Cleveland and Baltimore. Dubbing Mecca MGM is making its dubbing studios in New York available to all other companies "in the interests of the industry," according to a foreign department executive of the company. Ilya Lopert, who formerly operated a dubbing studio of his own in Paris, and Vladimir Posner, who had charge of dubbing for Metro in Paris before the war, are in charge of MGM's production of Spanish-dubbed films. Mr. Lopert will be remembered for his release here of the French film "Mayerling." RKO will launch its production of Spanish dubbing at the Lopert studios shortly, as will Twentieth CenturyFox. About 100 actors, directors and technicians are employed at the studio, of which 40 are Mexican, Argentinian, Cuban, Chilean, Peruvian and Colombian actors, who are under contract to Metro. Carlos Niebla, MGM's Mexican manager, is sending a questionnaire throughout that country, asking the public whether they prefer Hollywood films .dubbed in Spanish to those produced in Latin America and acted by Latin Americans or whether they prefer films in English with Spanish subtitles. Disney Dimensions THERE'S to be rnore Disney entertainment j available to exhibitors in 1945, and in more dimensions, according to disclosure made in connection with the annual financial statement issued last week. Whereas one feature picture and nine shorts were delivered during the company's fiscal year reported upon, the studio is to deliver a feature, three short features and approximately 18 shorts in 1945, it is indicated, although it's con^1 tinuingly true that production-for-entertainment at the Disney plant carries second priority to production-for-war. A Disney feature, inquiry of the studio makes clear, is a picture running substantially beyond 60 minutes; a short feature is one that runs from 40 to 60 minutes; and a short, of course, is a short. The long feature coming up is "Uncle Remus," in which cartoon and live action are to be combined; the three short features are "Swing Street," "Currier and Ives" and "Cuban Carnival" ; and the 18 shorts are unnamed. Chicago First-Run CHICAGO may soon have another first run theatre, the Monroe, which will materially relieve the Loop's product jam. James Jovaney, general manager of the Globe Film Company, distributor of exploitation pictures, recently purchased the Monroe theatre building from the Northwest Trust Company. He has been in New York for the past week shopping for first run contracts for the Monroe, which he plans to turn into a first-run outlet. The theatre is now being operated on a double feature policy, second Loop run, by Lubliner and Trinz, who also operate the neighboring Clark theatre. At mid-week it was reported in Chicago that Mr. Jovaney was seeking a deal with David O. Selznick and Samuel Goldwyn for their product, similar to their recent arrangement for the Astor in New York. High Steaks BULLFIGHTING will be the chore of a Hollywood actor, shortly. In Paramount's "Masquerade in Mexico" there are scenes in which the star is to fight a bull. The company has made Westerns, in which its stars have tossed the bull. Its leading Latin light, Arturo de Cordova, star of the picture, must now learn to fight in the bull ring. The company reported last week he would be instructed by a Mexican matador, Francisco Reyes. Mr. Reyes has fought more than 100 bulls. He has been gored only three times. Mr. Cordova is said by Paramount to have done in his youth "some amateur work in the bull ring." Precedent Falls No Lucre Lust RAMPANT commercialism will have no part in Mexican motion pictures if the advice of the Committee on Public Education, Mexico City, is heeded. The Committee, which includes leading Senators and Congressmen, suggests that those directly concerned with the preparation and production of motion pictures, with specific reference to scenarists, directors and producers, avoid being "mercenary." At least, they are cautioned not to let money be their sole aim in making a picture. In its message to the Mexican industry, the Committee said: "We urge you to correct such defects in scenarios as a tendency toward the commercial and a lust for lucre, forgetting that motion pictures are one of the best vehicles for public education. Therefore, scenarists, directors and producers must ever strive to make their prouctions of artistic, sceintific or literary value and at the same time entertaining." Can Bar DeMille DISSOLUTION of a temporary restraining order granted Cecil B. DeMille in the producer's protest against paying a one dollar assessment to the American Federation of Radio Artists levied on members to finance a campaign against a California proposal in the November election empowers the union to keep Mr. DeMille off the air if it elects to do so. The restraining order was dissolved by Superior Court Judge Emmett H. Wilson in Hollywood on the ground that its effect was "inimical to the welfare of the principle of the closed shop." Harvey Haul WASHINGTON has witnessed the shattering of many a precedent during the past dozen years, none of which had been more sacredly observed than the taboo against the placing of advertising material on the Treasury building. It had endured for 100 years, until Oscar Doob, advertising and publicity director for Loew's theatres, went to Washington. His War Bond idea developed into promotion for "Winged , Victory," when Hank Shields of the circuit ob RcbatCS tained permission to erect a huge banner — 60 feet long and 12 feet high — on the picture during the Sixth War Loan. FRANK FAY'S best friend and severest critic, Harvey, the six-foot rabit who is the unseen star of "Harvey," Brock Pemberton's Broadway hit, is getting around. According to reports, tieup promoters and operators are doing a landoffice business with Mr. Pemberton for rights to the use of Harvey. Reja, Inc., costume jewelers, have made Harvey earrings retailing at $9.39, Harvey pins at $13.98. Lightfoot Schultz Co. has come up with molded soap figures of Harvey and there are a variety of blouses, cocktail sets and Easter novelties in the process of manufacture which will blaze Harvey's trail from the 48th Street theatre off the Great White Way clear across the land. CARRYING his independent approach into the state legislature with him. Representative Frank H. Horrigan, an exhibitor, has introduced a bill in Butte which would require theatre circuits in Montana to pay $1,000 annually for a license for each theatre operated in the state by a circuit. UNCLE SAM, who collects vast sums from large salaried actors, sometimes pays some of it back. Last week, in making public its refunds to the persons who had added — or subtracted— wrong, the Government listed Charles Laughton as receiving $3,033.45 for an overpayment last year; Henry Fonda, as receiving $2,572.55; Conrad Nagel, $1,081.71; Adolph Menjou, $698.04; and Simone Simon, $956.61. Carl Laemmle's estate received $163,291.80. I MOTION PICTURE HERALD, published every Saturday by Quigley Publishing Company, Rockefeller Center, New York City, 20. Telephone Circle 7-3100; Coble address "Quigpubco New i l°\A '"'S'^V' President; Colvin Brown, Vice-Preiident; Red Kann, Vice-President; Theo. J. Sullivan, Secretary; Terry Romsoye, Editor; James D. Ivers, News Editor; Williom G. Formby held Editor; Roy Gallagher, Advertising Manager; Chicago Bureau, 624 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, 5; Hollywood Bureau, Postal Union Life Building, Hollywood, 28. William r! Weaver, editor; Toronto Bureau, 242 Millwood Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, W. M. Gladish, correspondent; Montreal Bureau, 265 Vitre St., West, Montreal, Canada, Pat Donovan, '-''''respondent; London Bureau, 4 Golden Square, London W I, Hope Williams Burnup, manager; Peter Burnup, editor; cable Quigpubco London; Melbourne Bureau, The Regent Theatre, m Collins St., Melbourne, Australia, Cliff Holt, correspondent; Sydney Bureau, 17 Archbold Rd., Roseville, Sydney, N.S.W., Australia, Lin Endean, correspondent; Mexico City Bureau, ^r. Carnoona y Voile 6, Mexico City, Luis Becerra Cells, correspondent; Buenos Aires Bureau, J. E. Uriburi 126, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Notolio Bruski, correspondent; Rio de Janeiro reau R. Sao Jose, 61 C. Postal 834, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Alfredo C. Machodo, c»rrespondent; Montevideo Bureau, P. O. Box 664, Montevideo, Uruguay, Paul Bodo, correspondent; cable Argus Montevideo. Member Audit Bureau of Circulations. All contents copyright 1945 by Quigley Publishing Compony. Address all correspondence to the New York Office. Other Vuigley Publications: Better Theatres, Motion Picture Dafly, International Motion Picture Almanac, and Fame. MOTION PICTURE HERALD. JANUARY 27, 194S 9