Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1946)

Johnston Replies ToKorda, Hitting At Restrictions In answer to charges against Hollywood by Sir Alexander Korda, Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association, said in the New York Times Sunday that "the sacred right of freedom applies to the distribution of films just as it applies to screen content. Whenever and wherever thedistribution of films is hedged in and circumscribed by insurmountable tariff barriers exorbitant customs levels, unreasonable quota restrictions or any one of a dozen other devices which may be applied to halt the free flow of screen, this form of freedom of expression is violated." "Barriers Beget Barriers" "There is an alarming tendency toward harsher restrictions on film importations moving steadily ahead right now in a score or more of countries," Mr. Johnston said. "It is axiomatic that barriers beget barriers. There is no logic in hailing a free screen while at the same time calling for measures to confine the motion picture behind the narrow limits of national boundaries." Answering Sir Alexander directly, Mr. Johnston said: "I want to see more British pictures shown in America. Today, the British industry has protection through government guarantee of approximately one-fifth of the playing time in British houses. But protection for the sake of nurturing a weakened national industry is one thing and protection to protect inferior productions — to make a closed shop of film production — is quite another. The constant effort should be to strive to lower, not to raise, barriers on freedom of expression." "I admit we've made mistakes. We shouldn't overload the foreign market merely because we have a heavy backlog of pictures. The need for more careful selectivity will always exist and we're doing something about it." Presided at MPA Meeting Prior to the appearance of his article in the Times, Mr. Johnston presided at the quarterly board meeting of the MPA, held for the first time in Washington. Many executives, including Barney Balaban, Jack Cohn, Ned E. Depinet, John J. O'Connor, E. W. Hammons, Robert W. Perkins, Nicholas Schenck, Spyros P. Skouras, as well as Francis Harmon, Carl E. Milliken and Gerald Mayer for the MPA, were present. The board approved the 1947 budget and heard a report by Mr. Johnston on his recent discussions with British industry leaders regarding proposed changes in the British quota laws. The appointment of an MPA representative to sit on the 12-men government film committee also won approval. The group heard a report by Byron Price, MPA vice-president in charge of MAYER INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR FOR MPA Gerald M. Mayer has been named managing director of the international division of the Motion Picture Association by Eric Johnston, MPA president. Mr. Mayer will assume his new duties January I. He replaces Carl E. Milliken, who acted as head of the international department during the war years. Mr. Milliken will continue as secretary of the association. Mr. Mayer will leave for Hollywood December 27 to discuss international problems with the Association of Motion Picture Producers. He will again accompany Mr. Johnston when the MPA head returns to Europe in April. the west coast bureau, on the Hollywood labor situation. Public relations and production code activities on the coast also were discussed. The MPA board met again, this time in New York, last Monday. This was primarily an export association meeting. Besides the company heads, the foreign managers of the various exporting companies gathered to hear another report by Mr. Johnston on the international situation. Heading the agenda was the recently concluded MPEA deal with Poland, which was approved by the MPA board. Maas Addresses Czechs Over National Radio Network Addressing the Czech people over their own state radio, Irving Maas, vice-president and general manager of the Motion Picture Export Association, in a 15-minute talk, said the resumption in the release of Hollywood product in Czechoslovakia was important in cementing the bonds of friendship between their country and the United States. "In no other European country which I have visited to date have I observed such solid reconstruction as in your country," Mr. Maas said. "I was particularly pleased •to ascertain for myself that our pictures are running in your theatres along with the pictures of other countries." The MPEA head, now touring Europe, visited Prague early this month. A report to the MPEA office in New York says Czech fans are paying black market prices to get in to see American films. Patrons are paying anywhere from two to three times the established admission price at many of Prague's first run houses where MPEA-released U. S. pictures are showing. The Czech Film Monopoly has issued stern warnings against the continuation of this practice. Manages Rensselaer House Robert Shattuck and Thomas Heritage, former service men, have taken over the management of the Uptown theatre in Rensselaer, N. Y. New U.S. Office Of Controls Will Handle Picture Motion pictures will form one of the three top divisions in the newly formed Office of Temporary Controls. This was decided last Thursday when President Truman abolished the Office of War Mobilization and Reconversion and assigned film activities to the OTC. Arch Mercey, film chief of the OWMR, will continue his duties with the new office. Film activities of the Government are scheduled to continue at least until June 30, when the new agency will have used its Congressional appropriation. Whether or not the agency will continue beyond that date will be up to the Republican Congress. GOP leaders already have gone on record as "being against a film message program." Senator Robert Taft of Ohio has criticized any attempt on the part of Administration leaders to organize media industries for the purpose of "propagandizing the people." On the House side, Representative Joseph W. Martin of Massachusetts has attacked the idea of organizing the film industry to inform the public. "That is what the Republican Party has been fighting since the early days of the New Deal. We intend to rid our Government of all so-called information programs, which are in reality nothing but propaganda efforts to mislead the people," Rep. Martin said. John Steelman, former OWMR director and a strong advocate of the film message program, was appointed "Assistant President." He will continue to advise the White House on economic matters. In his order setting up the new temporary agency, the President also abolished the Office of Price Administration, Civilian Production Administration, Office of Economic Stabilization and the National Wage Stabilization Board. Most of their few remaining functions were transferred to the Office of Temporary Controls. Texaco's 16mm Kodachrome Film Completed by Pathe A Texaco "convention-on-film" presenting the Texaco 1947 sales program has been completed by the Texas Company for showings at meetings of managers and district managers and local conventions throughout the country. Produced by RKO Pathe, the film employs Eastman Kodak's new commercial Kodachrome, which, according to an announcement from RKO Pathe, makes possible quantity production of 16mm color prints of high quality. RKO Pathe has previously discouraged wide use of 16mm color for commercial sponsors, but studying the results of the Texaco film now plans use of the new Kodachrome on a major scale. The film runs 16 minutes and stars Eddie Bracken. 22 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 21, 1946