Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1946)

"Tripe'' and Quota THE BRITISH Board of Trade reported May 25 that British theatres failed to show the required quota of English films last year. An industry spokesman, according to the United Press, blamed the poor quality of sec ond features for the decline. Only 19.73 per cent of those films shown in England during 1945 were of English origin. In 1944, 20.69 were English films. Eric Pelly, managing director of Film Producers Guild, was quoted by U. P. as saying that "full length British films have improved in quality, but some of the second feature films are just tripe." Steady Rise ADMISSION tax collections for April (representing theatre admissions for March) showed an increase of $97,760 over the $36,374,653 of the previous month, and soared to $7,395,443 above the collections of April of last year. Since the beginning of the fiscal year July 1, 1945, admission tax collections have amounted to $342,913,284. In the fiscal year 1945-46 revenue already has climbed to $45,528,507 above the 1944-45 level. Russian Account JUST FLOWN in from Russia, American audiences are now able to see the cinematic version of the recent Soviet elections, the Stanley theatre, New York's showplace of Russian-made product, announced this week. The film, a special issue of the new Soviet newsreel service, includes a 20-minute cross country resume of election day — "real Russian style." Candid camera scenes of notables going to and from the polls includes Joseph Stalin, Marshal Zhukov, Marshal Koniev, and others. Promised Fruits Brussels Bureau U. S. PRODUCT in Belgium has been enthusiastically received, as witness these excerpts from an article on "The American Film in Belgium," written by Maurice Schwilden for La Cinegraphie Beige : "This magnificent series (of U. S. films) makes us crave for the fruit promised by the bloom. We want to know the new producers, the new Hollywood stars, and, what is more, the new face of the American nation." "As soon as we were liberated," the arti cle began, "we got an orgy of American films already seen before 1940, but re-seen with such a joy. . . . Innumerable difficulties have pathed the way of new American films in Belgium, the main stumbling-block being the requisitioning of the big theatres by Allied troops. Second-rate halls, not requisitioned, have mainly showed French productions, cheaper to buy than the Yankee ones." Dissolution SURPRISE and confusion were felt in Hollywood and along Broadway Tuesday as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in an unexpected move abolished its entire play department, indicating it was no longer interested in Broadway plays as a source of motion picture material. The department personnel, including 20 people, received notices of dismissal Tuesday. Welcome THERE IS excitement in Shukhotatomaha by the Tombigbee down Mississippi way these days, which is by way of saying that Columbus, Miss., the one-time Indian village of "O'Possum Town" by the "Box Maker" river is getting ready to entertain the members of the board of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America. T. C. Billups, secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, has written a welcome: "June 10-11, 1946! A memorable day in the history of Columbus ! The directors of the Motion Picture Ttheatre Owners of America are our guests. It is an honor to have this distinguished group meet in our City by the Tombigbee. It honors, too, our native son, able, genial, kind Ed Kuykendall, president of the organization. "Welcome, Gentlemen, to Columbus, Miss., City of Charm and Culture, once called the 'Sleeping Beauty of the Deep South' — a City unique in architecture, reminiscent of great days long past and with a colorful history extending over a period of 126 years." It can be adde dthat the other two rivers in Columbus are the Buttahatchie and the Luxapalila, respectively the "Pretty River" and "Floating Turtle." Fire! Fire! PICTURES with stories involving arson should be banned, according to the mayor of Columbus, Ohio, James A. Rhodes. He has asked the state division of film censorship to ban such films as a step toward reducing the number of false alarms and fires set by juvemiles in Columbus. PEOPLE William Dozier, assistant to N. Peter Rathvon, president of RKO, has settled his contract with the company and will leave that position Saturday. Mr. Dozier will announce his new affiliation upon his return to Hollywood next week. Arthur Field, until recently a producer with MGM, has been named executive vice-president of London Film Productions, Inc., the American affiliate of Sir Alexander Korda Productions, it was announced in New York last week. Mark Sheridan, Jr., formerly a salesman of the 20th Century-Fox exchange in Atlanta, has been appointed manager of the New Orleans exchange, it was announced last Thursday by William J. Kupper, general sales manager of 20th-Fox. Earle W. Sweigert, Paramount division manager in Philadelphia, will be guest of honor at a dinner to be given June 24 by the Motion Picture Associates and the Philadelphia Variety Club. George Pal, producer of Puppetoons for Paramount release, was guest of honor at a cocktail party in the Yacht Room of the Hotel Astor in New York, Tuesday. Harry B. Smith, general manager; William Althaus, comptroller, and John" Glazier, film buyer and booker, all of Western Massachusetts Theatres, conferred with Paramount home office officials last weekend. James V. Pisapia, manager of the Harbor theatre in Brooklyn, N. Y., for the Interboro Circuit, has been authorized to wear the Army Commendation Ribbon for the outstanding manner in which he executed his responsibilities as assistant company manager of the Army Air Force show, "Winged Victory." J. E. Perkins, Paramount International division manager for the Far East, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, left New York Tuesday for a three-month survey of the territories. Jean Benoit-Levy, French director, has been appointed director of films and visual education of the Department of Information of the United Nations, it was announced Monday in New York. Walter Gould, United Artists foreign manager, flew to Paris last weekend on company business. He is expected to return in about a week. K. L. Streuber, associated with the international activities of RCA, has resigned from that company and has formed his own organization in New York to handle motion picture equipment for export. 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Sheehy, 36 Upper Ormond Quay; Rome, Argeo Sontucci, 10 Via Versi'lio-' Lisbon j'oao De Moraes Palrtieiro, Avenida Conde Valbom 116; Brussels, Louis Quievreux, 121 Rue Beeckmon; Amsterdam, Philip de Schaap 82 Jekerstraat; Copenhcigen Kris Winther Bogehoi 25 Stockholm, Gosta Erkell, 15 Brantingsgaten; Basel, Carlo Fedier, Brunnmottstr. 21; Prague, Joseph B. Kanturek, U. Grebovsky No. I; Sydney, Cliff Holt, Box 2608— G PC Derwent House Johannesburg, R. N. Barrett, 56 Northwold Drive, Saxonwold; Mexico City, Luis Becerra Cells, Dr. Cornnona y Voile 6; Havana, Charles B. Garrett, Refugio 168;' Buenos Aires, Notalio Bruski, J. E. Uriburi 126; Montevideo, Paul Bodo, P.O. Box 664. Member Audit Bureau of Circulations. Other Quigley Publications: Better Theatres, Motion Picture Daily, International Motion Picture Almanac and Fame. MOTION, PICTURE HERALD. JUNE ,1. 1946 9