Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1946)

Misunderstanding FROM DUBLIN this week came news that surely must go a long way toward further cementing the bonds of friendship between Eire and American exhibitors. The Eire exhibitors don't understand the trend of events in the U. S. battle on the films antitrust case, according to the news items. Said one prominent, but puzzled, Eire exhibitor: "I've tried my best to follow those court proceedings and findings, but, frankly, we just don't speak the language." If that Eire exhibitor would like an interpreter there are anywhere from 400 to 500 over here in America — all with different ideas. 6 'Duel 9 9 Premiere THE PREMIERE performance of David O. Selznick's Technicolor production, "Duel in the Sun," will be held December 29 before an audience of 2,000 wounded veterans in Birmingham Hospital, Van Nuys, Cal. In announcing this premiere Wednesday, Mr. Selznick said "Duel" would follow a "veterans first" policy in all cities through the country following its Los Angeles run, with the picture playing the hospitals before playing the theatres. For Cowboys THE CINCINNATI Times-Star printed an editorial the other day noting that Westerns "deserve more credit than they have been getting in the salons of the 'intelligensia'." Westerns don't "drip sentimental nonsense," reports the newspaper. Prompting the editorial pen was the Times-Star's appreciation of two of John Ford's pictures, "Stagecoach" and the recently released "My Darling Clementine." The first the TimesStar found "superb" and "there's very little the matter" with the second. "The Western," according to the editorial, "is a fresh, distinctly American contribution to dramatic art. It is no coincidence that, through the years, Westerns have been the most popular of all motion pictures." independently from other product scheduled for the Bell & Howell library recently acquired by U-I. With the planning stages completed, the British already are producing films at the rate of one a week on this new basis. The first block from America will comprise readaptations of some 50 British educational reels, made under the supervision of Julian Huxley, which now are in this country, Mr. Dorfman said. They are expected to be ready for international release in about six months. After that United World will start its own production, using eastern studios. The pictures, some in color, and with an average length of from one to two reels, will cover the entire educational field and will cost from $6,000-$ 10,000 a reel. It is planned to dub the films into 38 languages. United World will have its own distribution centers in the U. S., but will use Rank and U-I facilities abroad, Mr. Dorfman said. United World also will distribute good educational foreign product in this country. Films made under, the Anglo-American plan will not delve into controversial subjects. They will sell at from $35-$50. Production A JOINT seven-year production plan, calling for about 700 educational 16mm films to be made on a coordinated basis by United World Films, wholly-owned subsidiary of Universal-International, and the J. Arthur Rank organization, was announced by Edward L. Dorfman, United World vicepresident in charge of production, Wednesday. The educational reels will be produced MOTION PICTURE HERALD, published New York." Martin Quigley, President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor; Director; Bureaus: Hollywood, William Street, N.W.; London, Hope Williams Burnup, m 242 Millwood Road; Paris, Maurice Bessy, 2 Aveni Palmeiro, Avenida Conde Valbom 1 16; Brussels, Lo Gosta Johannes Bruski Quigley Russian Permit RUSSIA has opened her borders to a newsreel photographer for the first time since before the war. At the request of UNRRA, Peter Hopkins, an English photographer for that relief agency, will be permitted to enter Russia and take pictures. His footage will be distributed to American and British companies, UNRRA reported in Washington last week. Indian Premiere LOEWS International Corporation executives are pleased with "the first commercial exhibition of a 16mm feature ever put on in India." According to a Govind Amonkar, Loew's 16mm representative, the place was Santa Cruz, near Bombay, the time was Saturday night, November 16, the picture was MGM's "Strike Up the Band" and the theatre was an improvised one in the open air on the terrace of a boy's school. Akbar Hussein, the exhibitor, not knowing how many were going to turn up for the show, arranged for 300 seats. These were filled an hour before the first performance. He dipped into the school's supply of folding furniture and enlarged his theatre by 100 seats. But still the people came. The S. R. O. sign went up over the box office, but that didn't stop tickets from being sold. Eventually nearly 600 saw that first show. Now weekly screenings are being held. PEOPLE Arnold Pressburger, film producer, left New York Saturday on the Queen Elisabeth for a three-month business trip to England, France and Italy. Louis Epstein, for several years in charge of Mike Todd Productions in Hollywood, has been appointed studio contact executive in the New York office of Columbia Pictures. Norton V. Ritchey, Monogram International president, will leave New York this weekend for Havana, Cuba, where he will install Moe Messeri as Monogram's representative for Cuba. Tom Lucy, who has been acting branch manager of the MGM exchange in Atlanta for the past six months has been promoted to manager by William F. Rodgers, vice-president and general sales manager. Red Kann, vice-president of Quigley Publishing Company, was scheduled to arrive in New York Friday from Hollywood. Jack Weiss, former manager of the Studio theatre in Philadelphia, Monday was appointed representative in that city for Classic Pictures. Colonel Jason Joy, Twentieth Century-Fox public relations director in Hollywood, has signed a new contract with the studio. He has been with Twentieth Century-Fox 14 years. Charles K. Stern, assistant treasurer of Loew's, Inc., was given a birthday party last Wednesday at the Hotel Astor in New York. William R. Ferguson, exploitation manager of the company, was toastmaster. Harris Dudelson, formerly United Artists branch manager in Cincinnati, and more recently manager of the Bien circuit there, has resigned to become district manager for Film Classics. Cormack G. Keeney, Reading, Pa., theatre operator, has announced his retirement from the industry. He is succeeded by his son, Bernard B. Keeney, as manager-director of the Rajah and Plaza theatres. Alfred Kvool Tuesday was named Warner Theatres district manager for Wisconsin under James Cost-on, zone manager for the Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Oklahoma territories. S. R. Reams has been appointed manager of the Republic exchange in Atlanta. Joseph Auerbach, president of International Film Classics, is in Europe on new distribution deals and arranging for the acquisition of foreign features. lanager, Peter Burnup, editor, 4 Golden Square, W. I; Montreal, Stan Cornthwaite, 265 Vitre St. West; Toronto, W. M Gladish. ue Matignon; Dublin, T. J. M. Sheehy, 36 Upper Ormond Quay; Rome, Argeo Santucci 10 Via Versiha; Lisbon, Joao De Moraes ouis Quievreux, 121 Rue Beeckman; Amsterdam, Philip.de Schaap, 82 Jekerstraat; Copenhagen, KnsWinther Bogehoi 25; Stockholm. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 21, 1946 9