Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1945)

Spanish Ministry Awards Prizes to 21 Films of '44-45 Lisbon Bureau The Spanish Ministry of Commerce has awarded ioa? .?nzes t0 21 Pictures released during the 1944-45 season, according to an official announcement. First prize was given to "Inez De Castro," produced in Madrid by Ediciones Cinematogragicas faro S. A. All outdoor scenes were photographed in Portugal and the film had two directors, one of which d-A the Portuguese version, the ether filming the Spanish version. The story concerns KingPeter of Portugal and his love for a Spanish ladyAntonio Vilar, a Portuguese actor who played the leading role, received a special award for the best performance of the season. A second first prize went to "Bambu," directed by Jose Luiz Saenz de Heredia. Produced by Suevia Films, the film has a colonial background and stars Impeno Argentina and Luis Pena. Six second prizes and one third prize were also awarded to other features. Other films receiving cash awards were six teaturettes and five shorts A special award was made to "Garbancito de la Mancha the first color short produced in Spain Spanish production, on the one hand, has been considerably handicapped by severe restrictions on all types of material. However, these same restrictions, it is admitted, result in really first class pictures since only the very good productions are admitted at the studios. Four new productions currently are under way in bpam. Estudios Diagonal is working on "Ni Pobre N, Rico Sino Todo El Contrario." Gonzalo Delgras is shooting "El Viajero del Clipper" at Madrid and Barcelona. Productores Associados are busy at Barcelona preparing "Hacia La Luz " Un Hombre de Negocios" is Cifesa's most recent production. "Caesar and Cleopatra" A Review from London Master Named to Reach Goldman Suit Decision Judge William H. Kirkpatrick, of the United States District Court in Philadelphia, has appointed _ David Buchman as master to reach a decision in the $1,350,000 damage suit of William Goldman Theatres, Inc., against Warner Brothers their affiliates and eight distributing companies. ' Attorneys for the Goldman concern had petitioned the court for a jury trial after the Third Circuit Court of Appeals had reversed a lower court s decision that Warner Brothers, while holdPi^ i^Tu-0150!^ °n first run Pictures exhibited in Philadelphia, did not directly violate the Sherman anti-trust laws, because the procedure was entirely local in nature. Goldman filed suit against Warners in 1940 for triple damages claiming they lost $450,000 in receipts by being refused first run pictures and being eliminated from competition bv Warner The atres. Avidly awaited, and eagerly, often querulously condemned in advance by scoffers, J. Arthur Rank presented this week his six million dollar chaltenge to the world-Gabriel Pascal's production of George Bernard Shaw's "Caesar and Cleopatra " which was press previewed this week preparatory to its premiere at the Marble Arch Odeon theatre m London Thursday. Those six millions are safely in the basr In conception the picture goes back to the Griffith days with a breathtaking breadth of canvas and with exquisite searching into the human heart and humanltf'-f " * °f gre3tness and *e Humanity of greatness. The production follows meticulously Shaw's original phy m dialogue and sequence The imperious Caesar lands with his cohorts in Egypt end wandering across the desert at night finds Cleo patra hiding ,n the sheltering arms of the Sphinx lest the frightful Romans, particularly Caesar that notorious eater of women and cats, might find her He treats her as a child and adjures her that' queens may never show fear. He makes of her a queen, but in the process evokes such cruel waspish mahce, such an urge towards callous woundSg Sat Caesar himself is appalled. sai^fo/Rom^6 Wal"' SKbd-Ui"g Egypt's Pride' th^n that U \ t ' rememberl"g at the last moment that he has forgotten to bid farewell to Cleopatra Meanwhile you've gazed wonderouslv at the .nagn.ncence of Egypt's star-laden sk?, youVe seen majesty with its hair down, trembling [est Caesar with a paunch and baldness hidden with laurelbavs You ve sh f°H th\shrew^ Piece called the quS' cautains of '"-^ Su°Ul-°f a" the worId'* Shty captains of armies, sharing their humility their humanness, and the essential slyness hi he slattern who makes men's valour wither into craven fear e erv rrf0"^ y°U VC shared entertainment for every man and woman. Chits will revel at the chrttery of Cleopatra. There will be lome who will chuckle at those thrusts of wit when proud imperious Caesar is caught as just ano her general' There s music, there's color, there's feminine flavor Who1" "el TepdS ,Hke London's theatre "Who's v.xenness the film is worth the money d Says Dutch Norn Willing to TallM American Deal t1 1* by PHILIP DESCHAAP in Amsterdam Johan Miedema, vice-president of the J>landsche Bioscoop Bond, has declared tha Uutch trade organization is willing to entei negotiations with the American companies or representatives to make an agreement for rr benefit. But, he said, Holland is plunderec poor now America, he believes, should u stand that Holland's position has become mon hcult than ever. Holland needs American pre but Holland also needs money for itself he pc out, for the reconstruction of the country an. P°£t of money must be necessarily limited. The Dutch Government is ready to permit A 1 ican companies to work here and to distribute ; product, but the amount of money to be use. export for this purpose must be limited "We want to lose the war twice," Mr. Miedema deel 1 we want to remain master in our own hous ! Meanwhile, no decision concerning the dist : tion of new American pictures has been ri The activity of SHAEF ended November 22 g K£ timf &e dlstribution has been handled by Office of War Information, which will be a. only to the end of this year. What will ha afterward is not yet known. \x7hv mdustry is awaiting the arrival of Hi VV, Kahn, representative of the Motion Pic export Corporation appointed to work 'in Holl and it is still expected that an agreement car reached. T? 1 T ' Tt ^ H-agle-Lion, British company, has been admi ' as a member of the Bond, but under heavy pro trom the independent distributors. The repre< tative of this J. Arthur Rank unit, Job Ween started his activity at once and the first relc ot this new company was expected early in cember. V it New York Projectionists Will Elect December 26 The New York IATSE Projectionists' Local 306, has completed nominations for the election of officers to be held December 26. All current office-holders have been renominated, but all costs are being contested. Nominees are: For president Herman Gelber, incumbent, William Priven William Lieberman and Harry Mackler. For' vice president: Harry Storin, incumbent, and Tony Kugmo For recording secretary: Nathaniel Doragoff incumbent, and Frank J. Inciardi Financial secretary ; Charles Beckman, incumbent and _ Charles Goldman. Treasurer : James Am brosio, incumbent, and Hyman Boritz. New York business agent: Morris Kravitz. incumbent, Arthur J. Costigan and Steve D'Inzillo. Brooklyn business agent: Ben Scher, incumbent, and Sam Sa 30 Seen at a press preview in London. Reviewer's Rating: Superior.— Peter Burnup nte™rs *» »36 Gen r CAST I aesar Cbbpatra Clauds Rims Apollodorcus ■ ■ • . .Vivi;n Leig-h Ftatateeta Stewart Granger Francis L. Sullivan P-<=,1 <; a • ••..Flora Rctscn Anthony Eustrel, Cecil *^^^SSL'a*~. MGM Field Auditors to Meet In New York January 3 Alan F. Cummings, in charge of exchange one™ fons and maintenance for MGM has called the annual meeting of field auditors for the week of York ^ Attend ^ * ^ H°td AsSr Tn New a„H-t' pending from the field will be ei-ht Fritz Strengholt, formerly manager for MGiw Central Europe, now has the most important f TL . -eat»S m ^utch key cit'es under his cont Additionally, he is manager of an independent c tnbuting office, the Nova-Film, and of Nederla bilm, both importing British and French prod before the war. Undoubtedly these two compar will buy more French and British product ; Mr. Strengholt is expected to play an import; role in the future development of the Dutch ind. try. In addition to his theatre holdings i Strengholt is a member of the managing board the Dutch Motion Picture Federation V Theatre attendance continues good. The Engh George Formby pictures are breaking all recor, although all American pictures are excellently r ceived. American pictures in release are ■ "IV Deeds Goes to Town," "100 Men and a Gir Prisoner of Zenda," "Algiers," "Modern Time and Charlie Chaplin's "The Dictator" V New Russian product is being imported here ai will be released by Filmex, an independent distri utor. At least 11 Russian pictures are schedule V Out of Holland's 410 theatres, 26 have been d. stroyed while six have been badlv damaged Tl total damage suffered by the industry was 12 mi hon florins, about $31,800,000. The two Dutch sti dios at The Hague and Amsterdam were complete Iy plundered by the Germans. French Acquit Chevalier Of Collaboration Charge Maurice Chevalier French star and entertainer was acquitted December 6 of charges of collabora t.on with the Germans. The National Committe of 1 heatrical Purge gave its verdict in M. Cheva her s case without sanctions. The charges agains M. Chevalier were that he had toured Germany bu it was shown that his tour had been to Frencl prisoner-of-war camps, and that his meeting then with Hermann Goering had been unsolicited. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 15 1945