Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1946)

ITALY APPROVES U.S. AGREEMENT French Producers Score American Deal; RKO To Make Films in Paris The industry's important foreign problems came to the front again this week in reports from five countries : 1. The Italian Government has formally accepted the new film agreement with the eight major U. S. companies. 2. Henry W. Kahn, representative in Holland for the Motion Picture Export Association, arrived in New York to confer with ofHcials. 3. French producers denounced the recently concluded Franco-American agreement. As an aside, RKO announced that it would utilize its frozen French credits by making a series of pictures in Paris. 4. The problem of getting remittances from China was publicly and privately discussed. 5. Charles Mayer, former Far Eastern representative for Twentieth CenturyFox, sailed to represent the MPEA in Japan and Kora. In these countries, the State Department reports, the MPEA's program is moving along successfully. While an agreement between the Italian Government and eight American companies had been reported, this week's announcement from Rome that the Italian Government has accepted the pact is the first formal word on the subject. The agreement calls for American companies to exercise discretion in the number of pictures shipped to Italy. All money made by the Americans in Italy must be left there. It may, however, be used for any phase of the industry, including the purchase of Italian theatres, it was reported. MPA officials reported Tuesday they had not yet seen the agreement, but that it was understood the State Department was now working at decoding the document. Mr. Kahn arrived in New York by plane from Amsterdam Friday and has conferred with Francis Harmon, MPA vice-president ; Carl E. Milliken, head of MPA's international department; Irving Maas, vice-president and general manager of the MPEA; Gerald Mayer, assistant to Mr. Milliken, and Capt. Robert E. Vining, assistant to Eric Johnston, MPA president. American Films Tied Up While there was no official word from either the MPA or the MPEA concerning the discussions, it is believed that Mr. Kahn reported upon the situation in Holland now that the American distributors and the Bioscoop Bond find themselves at odds. Mr. Kahn did report, however, that 72 cases of American films have been tied up in the Rotterdam harbor since May 13 as a re JAPS WANTED FILMS. OCCUPATION OR NO Col. Timothy A. Mclnerny, now executive assistant to Tonn Clark, Attorney General, told this story to Motion Picture Association officials. One of the first 30 or so Americans to enter Tokyo, the colonel saw an enormous line of people standing in the street as he flew over the city. Landing, the colonel determined to find out why. He found hundreds of Japs standing in front of a downtown theatre, oblivious to the occupation. In front of that theatre, showing a native picture, was a line that stretched for a mile and a half. suit of a strike at the large port. When this product from the eight member MPEA companies is released it will have to be censored before being distributed. From Paris last week came a strong condemnation of the recently-concluded American picture importing agreement — called "a death blow to French motion pictures." Jacques F. Frogeries, president of the Syndicate of French Film Producers, warned that "the French film industry could not survive the unequal competition of increased imports from the U. S." and called upon the French Government to revoke the agreement. Under the agreement signed in Washington by Leon Blum, by July 1 the screen quota for French productions shall be four weeks of each quarter. This quota is then broken down over a period of time and is finally abolished altogether. "Golden Silence" First RKO's announcement of production in Paris in conjunction with Pathe Cinema came from west coast officials. The first of the pictures will be "Golden Silence," starring Raimu, star of "The Baker's Wife." Rene Clair, now in Hollywood, will direct. The second film will be "Pearls of the Crown." The pictures will be produced with French dialogue. The American companies received their last remittances from China in July, 1945. At that time a special arrangement was made for the industry and an exchange ratio of $20 to $1 was established. Because of skyrocketing inflation in China this ratio has been abolished. In Japan there is one of the "industry's greatest opportunities for development of a post-war market," according to an MPA spokesman. The MPEA's operations in Japan and Korea are already moving along successfully and are expected to be given impetus when Mr. Mayer assumes his duties for the MPEA in those countries at the end of this month. American product, handled independently of Army authority, is already in the country and credit is to be given to the MPEA for all rentals, it was reported. Since the U. S., as the occupying authority, stands behind the Japanese yen exchange for pictures, the credit is of considerable value even though it cannot be converted into dollars as yet. Otto W. Bolle Bolle 20th-Fax British Head The appointment of Otto W. Bolle as managing director in Great Britain for Twentieth Century-Fox International-Inter America Corporations, was announced Wednesday by Murray S i 1 v e r s t one, president. Mr. Bolle has been the company's supervisor of Australasia, South Africa and the Far East. He succeeds Francis L. Harley, new managing director of Europe, Scandinavia, the Middle East and Africa. Mr. Bolle's headquarters will be in London. Mr. Silverstone said it was felt Mr. Bolle was eminently fitted for the London post, having been associated with foreign operations for the companj^ for several years in countries of the British Empire. This, Mr. Silverstone said, has given him a broad international viewpoint. Mr. Bolle also will become managing director of British Movietonews Ltd. Next August Mr. Bolle will round out 10 years with the company. His first assignment was in South Africa where he opened a branch office in Johannesburg. Later he became home office representative for Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, operating from Sydney. On his annual visit to New York about a year ago he was named supervisor of these territories and the Far East. MPEA Names Louis Kanturek As Czech Representative The Motion Picture Export Association has named Louis Kanturek, Twentieth Century-Fox International representative in Central Europe, as its representative for Czechoslovakia. He is expected to leave New York for Prague as soon as transportation is available. It is reported that eight American pictures already have been selected for exhibition and that additional pictures will be selected under terms of a tentative agreement arrived at by Mr. Kanturek, George Hummel, Motion Picture Association representative in Paris, and the Czech Government film monopoly. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JUNE 15, 1946 33