Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1946)

THIS WEEK IN THE NEWS Fun in Denver DENVER SCHOOLCHILDREN should be having the time of their lives. Because of the coal strike the Denver schools have been forced to close and the kids have been offered the chance of attending the theatre every day. It worked this way: Fox Intermountain Theatres have made a half a dozen of their Denver theatres available to the school board for its use every morning from 9:30 to 11 a.m. for classroom assembly or for visual education. The theatres, which are heated by gas or oil, will furnish, if the school board wishes, a feature or a short picture which will tie in with the school board's program. Sour Song THE SONGS the nation sings came in for some court action this week with the New York State Court of Appeals unanimously reversing the Appellate Division to rule that the Advance Music Corporation has cause for action against the American Tobacco Company which, says Advance Music, is "capricious" in choosing songs played on the tobacco company's weekly "Hit Parade" program — a program which broadcasts the "top ten tunes" of the day to an audience estimated at 15,000,000. The bill of particulars explained that motion picture producers, music jobbers and dealers and band leaders are influenced by the ratings which the defendants give the songs. Advance Music charged that their songs are either passed over by the defendants or given an improper rating. Horse Story YOU CAN believe this press agent's story or not, but while William R. Ferguson, director of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's exploitation was holding a two-day meeting at the Biltmore Hotel, New York, to talk over with his field men the personal appearance tour of Bess, the horse star of "Gallant Bess," another convention was going on in the same hotel. It was the annual meeting of the National Fertilizer Association. Brief Suggestion London Bureau DIVERTING example of a mountain laboring is to be discerned in the report on the film industry prepared by a small group of Members of Parliament for submission to the president of the Board of Trade. The group got together and proposed a drastic probe into every ramification of the industry. It had no authority to summon witnesses, but people like J. Arthur Rank went along with GUARD your freedom, Price tells press, screen and radio Page 13 INDUSTRY facing barrage of pleas for "message" films Page 13 EXHIBITORS ready to fight local closing order in coal strike Page 14 INDUSTRY sponors new welfare organization at New Orleans meet Page 19 ON THE MARCH— Red Kann in comment on industry affairs Page 22 SERVICE DEPARTMENTS -Hollywood Scene Page 34 In the Newsreels Page 54 Managers' Round Table Page 57 IN PRODUCT DIGEST SECTION Showmen's Reviews Page 3345 Advance Synopses Page 3347 Short Subjects Page 3348 RADIO editors vote Allen champion of the air in Fame poll Page 27 SKOURAS, Sherwood and Berlin honored for Conference work Page 28 PICTURES still rate top honors on Gl entertainment list Page 30 NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT— Notes about industry personnel across country Page 39 MPA Title Bureau proves value in years since 1925 establishment Page 52 Picture Grosses Page 65 Short Product at First Runs Page 56 What the Picture Did for Me Page 55 Service Data Short Subjects Chart The Release Chart Page 3350 Page 3351 Page 3353 them just to show they had nothing to hide. After prolonged deliberation the group is understood to have reported that it doesn't favor nationalization of the industry but would like to see the Government acquire by compulsory purchase 500 cinemas, principally from the Gaumont British, Associated British Cinemas and Odeon circuits. These theatres would then be divided into two circuits, each controlled by experienced executives who would operate the circuits commercially with no Government subsidy. They recommend also that the Government build or acquire studios wherein "approved independent" subjects could be produced and distributed through Government sponsored distribution agencies. It is authentically stated that Sir Stafford Cripps, chairman of the Board of Trade, regards these suggestions as just another example of MP-backed ventures letting off steam. One Boy THE QUESTION of the relationship be tween motion pictures and juvenile delin quency being much in the news nowadays, Cr\gest Shot Fred Wehrenberg, president of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America, quotes this remark by Juvenile Judge Camille Kelly in the latest MPTOA bulletin: "I have known of but one boy who could in any way blame his acts of juvenile delinquency upon a motion picture; an excellent record, I'd say, inasmuch as I have dealt with literally thousands of delinquents." No Commitment "I AM here strictly on a holiday, I am tired after making quite a number of pictures in England and I have no commitments to make any further films either in the United States or in Britain," James Mason said following his first American appearance on the Theatre Guild on the Air show Sunday night. The British actor said he and his wife intended to stay in New York for a while. Later they may go to Bermuda. He repeated that he had not signed any contract with David Rose. Mr. Rose, however, insists that Mr. Mason signed an agreement last June calling for two pictures a year for the next five years. He's seeing lawyers about it. Mr. Mason said that while he had no plans to make films in Hollywood, he would accept a good Broadway play lead. The actor had some harsh words for both the British and American industries, particularly for what he charges was their inability to arrive at a formula for high-standard production of motion pictures. CECIL B. DeMILLE will turn actor for an appearance in Paramount's 36-star "Variety Girl." Since there is no reason in the world why he should appear as any other character than Cecil B. DeMille he will appear as himself and, in his sequence, will direct a scene from his new production, "Unco'unquered," to be a Paramount release. 8 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 7, 1946