Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1946)

See Monogram Net Abroad Up; Expand Product Monogram will more than double its revenue from foreign markets during the coming year, David D. Home, assistant treasurer and a director of_Monogram International Corporation, predicted in a home office interview last weekend. Mr. Home had just returned by plane from the coast, where he held conferences with Samuel Broidy, Monogram president, and Norton V. Ritchey, president of Monogram International. Mr. Home spoke enthusiastically of "the wonderful job that has been done in opening foreign offices in such countries as Italy, Belgium, Holland, France, Czechoslovakia, Philippines and China. He also cited deals that have been arranged with various major circuits in foreign countries for Monogram product. Cites Product Records " 'Dillinger' showed we can do a good job in foreign countries," he said, adding that it had broken many ' records. He also pointed to the job of superior production the company is doing, mentioning such films as ''Suspense" and "It Happened on Fifth Avenue," which Roy Del Ruth has just completed, and on which $250,000 will be spent in this country in a nationwide campaign. During the Hollywood conferences, the decision was reached to increase the foreign personnel by 50 per cent. Monogram's foreign income for the year ending June 29, 1946, was $1,356,089, compared with $824,601 for the previous year. An announcement that the King Brothers have signed with Monogram for six $1,000,000 productions in conjunction with the company's expansion program which will result in the company's producing more films in the next 12 months than any other Hollywood studio, was made this week by Mr. Broidy. He said that during the next year the Kings will produce three of a scheduled six films, making a total of 53 for Monogram. Plan New Buildings Also under way is a schedule calling for construction of new sound stages, a new studio, construction of a mill, commissary, and new writer, director and publicity units. The first two King films to enter production will be "The Last of the Bad Men," and "The Hunted." Also on schedule is "Focus," "Gun Crazy," "The Wabash Blues," and •'I Wouldn't Be in Your Shoes." Other films to come from the Monogram studio are "Mr. Gideon" and "Favorite Son." Highlighting future Monogram productions will be "Tragic Symphony," based on the life of Tchaikovsky, which co-producers Benjamin Glazer and Nat W. Finston will make with a $1,000,000 budget already set for it. IN NEWSREELS MOVIETONE NEWS— Vol. 29, No. 17— President Truman opens TJ. N. General Assembly in N. Y. . . . Sports: Hockey season on, riding the rapids, girl acrobats. . . . Trap for baboons in zoo is big flop. MOVIETONE NEWS— Vol. 29, No. 18— Navy displays twin-engine helicopter. . . . Notables sail on return voyage of Queen Elizabeth. . . . Hunting buffalo with newsreel camera. . . . Lounging fashions. . . . New Zealand woman tames eels. . . . Football: Philadelphia, Los Angeles, New York, Iowa. NEWS OF THE DAY— Vol. 18, No. 215— United Nations special: Delegates welcomed to New York; luncheon at the Waldorf-Astoria^ President Truman's address at opening session. Sports: Canoists ride the rapids in Austria; "submarine" basketball in Hollywood pool. NEWS OF THE DAY — Vol. 18, No. 216-Twinengine helicopter. . . . College ain't what it was. . . . Miss Liberty's birthday. . . . Notables on Queen Elizabeth. . . . Football: Penn vs. Navy, Army vs. Duke. . . . Paris' queer hair-do fashions. PARAMOUNT NEWS— No. 18— Clothing gifts— war babies give thanks. . . . Nazis' last mile. . . . The search for peace. PARAMOUNT NEWS— No. 19— Navy shows largest helicopter. . . . What's new at the zoo. . . . Latest hair styles from Paris. . . . Headline people sail for Europe. . . . Football: Army vs. Duke, Notre Dame vs. Iowa. RKO PATHE NEWS— Vol. 18, No. 2»-United Nations meet in N. Y. . . . Celebrate festival of Buddha's tooth. . . . Push-button parking for tomorrow's cars. RKO PATHE NEWS— VoL 18, No. 21— Navj tests helicopter. . . . Queen Elizabeth sails. . . . Gala audience at Paris opera reopening. . . . Slowest entry wins strange race. . . . Football: Penn vs. Navy, Oregon vs. Washington. UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL— Vol. 19, No. 549— Truman urges U. S. stop harping on war. . . . Steaks on parade. . . . Amazing girl acrobats. . . . Prison rodeo a bust -out. UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL— Vol. 19, No. SSO^Celebrities sail for Europe. . . . Driver don'ts. . . . Hair-do forecast. . . . Parking problem solved. . . . Football: Army vs. Duke, Notre Dame vs. Iowa, Washington vs. California. Get Right to See Books In Denver Theatre Suit U. S. District Judge J. Foster Symes in Denver has granted Loew's, Inc., 20th Century-Fox and RKO Radio Pictures the right to examine the books of the Broadway theatre, as a prelude to the trial of a $3,000,000 damage suit in Delaware, where two of the three defendant companies are incorporated. The suit was filed in Delaware by Trueman T. Rembusch, secretary-treasurer, and John Wolferg, manager, through the Cinema Amusement Company, owner of the theatre. The defendants claim the damages due because of alleged inability to obtain films for a reasonable run for the Broadway. The house, formerly operated by Fox Intermountain Theatres, was used by them exclusively as a moveover house, using principally MGM and RKO product that had already played the Orpheum, an RKO house. When the Orpheum held films over other product was moved over from other first runs. When Cinema Amusement took over the Broadway they allege this run was denied them. Thurman Arnold, one of the attorneys for the theatre company, is in Denver this week collecting case material. Legion of Decency Reviews Five New Productions The National Legion of Decency reviewed five new productions this week, approving all but one. "Johnny Frenchman" was placed in Class A-I, unobjectionable for general patronage. In Class A-II, unobjectionable for adults, were "Brute Man," "My Darling Clementine" and "Nocturne." "Desirable Lady" was placed in Class B, objectionable in part, because of a "suggestive" dance. Allied Rent Scale Based on Terms For 3 Pictures The film rentals paid by the individual exhibitor for "Maisie," "Hold That Blonde" and "Abilene Town" will be the basis for the rental scale for the 12 features contemplated by Allied States Association in its production-distribution program, it is indicated by the production committee of that organization. Allied is now distributing subscription conracts. The Allied plans call for $250,000 production budgets for each of the proposed 12 films. The first features expected to go into production are of the Nick Carter or "The Goldbergs" type, plus one called "The Hambletonian." In the event the pictures upon which the rental scale is to be based were, played on percentage, Allied members may either enter the percentage terrns, or, if they prefer, use the average cost as a flat rental price. Subscription contracts reveal that exhibitors are being asked to make a definite commitment for only the first four of the series. Following delivery of these initial four pictures, exhibitors may eliminate any or all of the remaining eight. The agreements are between national Allied and the theatre owner, and are so set up that each agreement can be transferred thus enabling Allied to make the best possible deal. The organization is requiring separate agreements for each theatre a member may operate. U-l Merger Approved by Treasury and SEC Approval has been granted by the Treasury Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission for the proposed plan of consolidation of International Pictures with Universal Pictures, Inc. As a result of the approval, Universal officials stated, the consolidation very likely can be completed within the next three weeks. In addition to considerable detail to be completed, the company is awaiting action by the New York Stock Exchange on its application for the listing of the securities of the new company. The consolidation plan calls for acquisition by Universal of all assets of International in exchange for 280,000 shares of Universal common, subject to a reduction to 125,000 shares upon delivery by Universal of waivers of its rights as owner of the International preferred and Class A stock, which it will receive as part of the latter's assets. Sell Waitsburg Theatre Mr. and Mrs. Kash Kielpinski have sold their Plaza theatre in Waitsburg, Wash., to Mr. and Mrs. Claud S. Hanchett, who took over November 1. 48 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 2, 1946