Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1946)

Milan Exhibitors Plan Group to Aid Industry by ARGEO SANTUCCI in R&me The idea of forming an organization to develop and support the Italian industry was discussed at a recent meeting of exhibitors in Milan. Italian exhibitors would supply part of the capital by subscribing two per cent of their daily gross income. Under this plan it is estimated the capital of the organization would reach one billion lire, or about $4,400,000, in three years. The Secretary of State for the motion picture industry has approved the project. .;• V A committee of representatives of the Soviet motion picture industry has toured Italy. The committee viewed production in the most important Italian studios. Heading the group was Mr. Sergius Budiaev, general manager of the Sovexportfilm all over the world. Other members were: Miss Tamara Makarova, Russian star of "The Teacher," "The Oath" and other Soviet films; Mrs. .Veriko Angiaparidze, well known Russian stage and screen star; Mr. Mitchell Ciaurelj, one of the top directors in the U. S. S. R. ; Nicolaj Kriukov, musician, and Leonida Kosmatov, Russian cameraman. V Guiseppe Croce has been appointed general manager of the E. N. I. C. by the board of directors of the company. Stefano Giacheddu has been named advisor to the company. Importation of 4,500,000 meters of film stock has been scheduled. Of this total 3,200,000 meters are to come from the United States, 800,000 meters from England and 500,000 from France. The material already had been portioned out to the different companies when it was learned that, for the moment it would be possible to import stock only from France. No currency is available to pay for the rest of the importations now. V The Italian paper // Globo says Italy now is in a condition to export a certain amount of goods. They are said to include cameras, projectors' and motion picture apparatus.. V Lady Sarah Churchill will have a leading part in the picture "When in Rome," to be shown in Italy under the title "Premio Di Roma" ("Award of Rome"). Wheeler Gets Astor Franchise Edward A. Wheeler, previously connected with the American Standard Film Company and the Penn Film Service, covering Ohio, Pennsylvania and Illinois, has acquired the franchise for Astor Pictures in the Cincinnati area. Mr. Wheeler has opened an office in that city from which he will also operate as local representative for the Avanda Company with a lobby display service. IN NEWSREELS MOVIETONE NEWS— VoL 29, No. 27— Famed Mt. Cassino Abbey to be rebuilt out of ruins of war. . . . More countries become members of UN. . . . Futuristic banking. . . . Farming by radio. . . . Sheep get clipped. . . . Santa Claus time. . . . Art for swim suits. . . . Sports: boxing, hunting, skiing. MOVIETONE NEWS— Vol. 29, No. 28-Rescue epic in Alps air crash. . . . The Normandie's last mile. . . . Army vs. Navy. . . . Penn vs. Cornell. NEWS OF THE DAY— Vol. 18, No. 225— Latest films from Palestine. . . . Rebuilding Mt. Cassino Abbey. .. . . Hollywood Yule greetings. . . . International slugfest. . . . Bill Stern's All-American team. NEWS OF THE DAY— VoL 18, No. 226-Army vs. Navy. . . . Alpine rescue. . . . Voyage of doom for the Normandie. PARAMOUNT NEWS— No. 28— Entire reel devoted to All-American football .round-up. PARAMOUNT NEWS— No. 29— Normandie's last voyage. . . . Nation's top ribbers kid Eisenhower. . . . Army vs. Navy. RKO PATHE NEWS — VoL 18, No. 30— Strikers riot at Allis-Chalmers. . . . Nazis on trial for war murder of 335. . . . Auto phone brings calls to motorists. . . . Salvaged tanker aids west coast lumber mills. . . . U. S. books exhibited in Czechoslovakia. . . . Paris sees wheelbarrow wedding. . . . School kids tour Banff by bike. RKO PATHE NEWS— Vol. 18, No. 31— Alpine plane crash rescue. . . . Army vs. Navy. UNIVERSAL NEWS RE EI Vol 19, No. 559— Animals rescued from snow. . . . Santa visits Hollywood. . . . Flood threatens Rome. . . . Oregon State sinks Oregon. . . . Lybia kids return home. . . . Nazi generals on trial. . . . President Wilson launched. . . . Aviation in the news. UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL — Vol. 19, No. 5«> — Air rescue in Alps. . . . Army vs. Navy. Three Clearance Pleas Filed With Arbitration Tribunals Three cases have been filed with the American Arbitration Association against MGM, Paramount, RKO Radio, 20th Century-Fox and Warners. Claiming that clearance granted to six Dubuque, la., theatres is "arbitrary, excessive and unreasonable," Leo Bennis of the Capitol in Dubuque has asked the Des Moines tribunal for reduction or elimination of clearance which favors the Grand, Orpheum, Avon, State, Strand and Varsity theatres. Lloyd Bridgham, owner and operator of the Harbor at York Harbor, Me., in a complaint filed with the Boston tribunal, maintains that the 14-day clearance to which his theatre is subject after first run in Portsmouth, N. H., is "unreasonable" and is seeking a reduction. Also filed in the Boston tribunal is a request for elimination or reduction to a "reasonable period" of pictures shown at the Island theatre, Portsmouth, R. I. The theatre is owned and operated by Orville O. Smith. Plan New Allied Unit For Denver Territory A new unit of Allied States in the Denver territory is planned by John Wolfberg of the Broadway and Vogue theatres, Denver. Mr. Wolfberg, who attended the Allied national convention in Boston, is sending personal letters to independent exhibitors in the area and has reported that most of the responses thus far received from exhibitors favor the formation of the unit. India Riots Ruin Business for A 11 Bombay Houses by Bombay Correspondent The political unrest in India with its attendant riots has paralyzed the exhibition branch of the film industry here with cinemas showing foreign pictures losing at least 30 per cent of their business since the middle of August, and houses showing Indian films between 50 and 60 per cent of their business. Production, too, has been similarly and severely affected. Almost all the studios in Bombay and Calcutta, where the political riots developed most seriously, were completely deserted for several weeks. As the troubles are not yet over and as the film industry has been hit hard nobody at present can forecast the future of the Indian industry, although small concerns may be wiped out of existence and major companies may have to face severe financial crises. Despite this, however, during the first nine months of the current year film companies with an aggregate capital of about $20,000,000 were launched. During 1944 and 1945 those new companies formed had an aggregate capital of only $10,000,000. V The report of the Indian industry's mission sent to Europe and America with the approval and support of the Indian Government has been released. The 90-page report suggests that in order to put the country's industry on a stable and progressive basis the Government should take the initiative in organizing and centralizing the industry. The mission further urges the Government to take the initiative in the manufacture of raw film and motion picture equipment and recommends the establishment of a Central Academy and Research Institute for which the Government should supply sufficient funds. The last recommendation made is that urging the Government to use motion pictures as a vehicle for combating anti-Indian propaganda and for creating better understanding and sympathy for the rehabilitation of the country. The mission has expressed its thanks for rordial reception it received in the United States. Mayer, Burstyn To Release Three Indian Features Arthur Mayer and Joseph Burstyn will release three Indian films produced and directed by V. Shantaram, currently visiting New York. The features are "Shakuntala," based on a mythological romance; "Story of Dr. Kotnis," reportedly the only Indian film ever made in the English language, dealing with a war theme, and "My Home Is in the Hills," a comedy. Shantaram's wife, Jayashree, plays the lead in both "Shakuntala" and "Dr. Kotnis." 54 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 7, 1946