Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1946)

FRANCE AND ITALY SIGN AGREEMENT Regulates Film Relations and Provides Favored Nation Treatment A unique agreement regulating FrancoItalian cinema relations which solves satisfactorily problems pending between the two countries since the liberation was signed October 29 by representatives of the Cinematographic Services of the Presidency of the Italian Counsel and the Director General of French Cinema. The uniqueness of the agreement lies in the fact that for the first time the film syndicates have taken the lead in the drafting of an international agreement. Both delegations will request their respective governments to grant each other most favored nation treatment as far as the export and import of cinematographic material is concerned. Would Unfreeze Capital The agreement provides : 1. For the release ot French films frozen in Italy. 2. For the defrosting, shortly, of French producers' capital frozen in Italy. 3. For the creation of a statute for Franco-Italian co-production. The agreement is not yet in force, but since the conference was held under government auspices and attended by government figures, it is expected that action on the provisions will be taken soon. Some of the agreements are to be approved by an exchange of letters between the diplomatic authorities of the two countries; others will be recommended to the governments with the suggestion that the terms be included in the. commercial treaties which should soon be negotiated between the two countries. No Quota Provided The agreement provides that imports of French pictures into Italy or Italian pictures into France shall not be limited nor is there a numerical quota. Pictures can be sold for a fixed price, on a percentage basis, or on a percentage basis plu& a guaranteed minimum. The tax on dubbing is abolished in Italy. Receipts of French films exhibited in Italy are at present blocked. The same measure was applied in France with regard to the receipts of Italian films exhibited in France. In the matter of co-production, it was agreed that for an experimental period commencing February 1, 1947, and continuing until February 1, 1948, France and Italy should co-produce a maximum of 15 quality features ; 10 in Italy, which will be considered part of Italy's quota of national films, and five in France, to be considered part of that country's quota. MPEA CONCLUDES DEAL FOR FILMS TO POLAND The Motion Picture Export Association has concluded a deal with Film Polski, the nationalized industry organization of Poland, for the release of MPEA product in that country. The deal is subject to approval by the Polish ministry. MPEA directors approved it Monday. Negotiations were held in a "friendly atmosphere", it was reported Tuesday from Prague, following the arrival there from Warsaw of Irving Maas, MPEA general manager, and Louis Kanturek, MPEA European supervisor, who negotiated the deal with Colonel Ford, Film Polski's general manager. The first release, scheduled for January I, will probably be "Madame Curie". The Polish deal is similar to the Czech, which 'called for the release of 80 features and shorts. MPEA will have a Polish representative. Rank Takes 30 In New Zealand J. Arthur Rank has purchased 30 theatres belonging to J. C. Williamson Pictures Corporation in New Zealand for $1,250,000, according to E. J. Tait, head of the circuit and director of 17 Australian amusement companies. Mr. Tait, who runs legitimate and motion picture theatres in Australia, is in New York in search of properties. He said the sale of the circuit was consummated because of the peculiar theatre situation now prevailing in New Zealand. With Mr. Rank owning a half interest in the Kerridge-New Zealand Circuit and 20thFox having a 50 per cent holding in the Moodabee circuit's 80 houses, Mr. Tait felt his position would not be tenable in the long run. The Rank interests are also strengthening their position in Australia, where the British leader has a half interest in about 100 houses. Mr. Tait said the big question in Australia now was whether British and American picture interests would chose to fight it out or cooperate. About 10 per cent of all films now playing in Australia come from the Rank studios, he said, but their number is increasing steadily. The Australian quota on imports is very low, he said. So are rentals and admission prices in comparison to U. S. standards. Canadian Odeon In Theatre Deal by W. M. GLADISH in Toronto Odeon Theatres of Canada have signed an agreement with Sam Fingold and Ralph Dale of Toronto providing for the combination of a group of houses in Ontario to be directed by National Theatre Service, a new company. Mr. Fingold is NTS president and Mr. Dale is vice-president. The 23 theatres are situated all over Ontario and will be operated as a separate circuit in affiliation with Canadian Odeon. Mr. Fingold and Mr. Dale formerly were partners in the Theatre Amusement Company of Toronto. The company controlled 12 houses, some of them independently owned. They had an equal interest with Odeon in the balance of the TAC houses. Four of the theatres involved in the new deal are in Toronto, another four in Hamilton and three in Ottawa with the rest scattered in smaller communities across the province. The merger was undertaken in line with an old desire on the part of the J. Arthur Rank organization to see a separate circuit in Ontario to permit centering of attention on the opening of new Odeon theatres in 1947 as well as on the training of managers and staffs for the new houses, according to J. E. Lawson of Canadian Odeon. He said that this expansion had placed additional duties and responsibilities on the operational heads of Canadian Odeon. The agreement also provides for the absorption of Associated Theatres, Toronto, a buying-booking office, into NTS which also takes over booking contracts for 19 Ontario theatres under this part of the transaction. Independent Ontario exhibitors will be able to avail themselves of this service. Trusts Threaten Economic Opportunity, Says Berge Economic opportunity in America is threatened by economic trusts maintained by large industries, such as the film industry, according to Wendell Berge, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the anti-trust division. Speaking last Wednesday night in Chicago before the local chapter of the New Council on American Business, Mr. Berge reported that "the 250 largest corporations in this country now hold approximately two-thirds of the nation's usable manufacturing facilities." He declared that more financial appropriations should be given his bureau in order that "small business in America can be protected." 80 Pre-Releases Set Warner Brothers' "The Man I Love" has been set for 80 advance engagements during the Christmas to New Year holiday week in upper New York State, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. The picture is scheduled for general release January 11, and stars Ida Lupino and Robert Alda. 20 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 21, 1946