Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1946)

Judges Clearing Way for ATA to Appeal Verdict March of Dimes Drive Collection January 23-30 The motion picture industry's participation in the March of Dimes started last Saturday when Emil G. Jensen, director of the motion picture division of the drive, outlined his preliminary plans to the second annual convention of the State Advisors on Women's Activities at the Hotel Biltmore, New York. Mr. Jensen, accompanied by Fredric March, one of his volunteer aids, told the women he was enlisting the cooperation of all picture and theatrical producers and that special star attractions would be booked in theatres cross-country from now until the March of Dimes theatres collections, January 25 through January 30. With the film division of the drive organized barely a week ago, 1,000 theatres already have pledged full support to the drive, promising they will show the Greer Garson trailer, "A Step Forward," and arrange audience collections at each performance. Mr. March, in his address to the women advisors, reported that he "expects every screen player of Hollywood and every actor of the legitimate theatre to join actively in the March of Dimes" which he characterized as "one of the worthiest causes that they are privileged to aid." David A. Bader, editor and publisher of the 16mm Reporter, has joined the March of Dimes campaign as trade press liaison to work under Charles Reed Jones, drive national advertising and publicity manager. Cinema Stamp Collectors Elect Cohn President Stamp collectors within the industry met in New York December 13, christened their group Cinema Stamp Collectors, and elected Nat Cohn of Columbia as president. Other officers are Jack Hoffberg, first vice-president; Edward Aaron, second vice-president; Leon J. Bamberger, third vice-president; Henderson M. Richey, field representative ; John Wenisch, recording secretary; Albert Deane, corresponding secretary; Jack Levy, treasurer, and Howard Levy and Sid Weiner, sergeants-at-arms. Name Eight Warner Films For British Distribution Warner Bros, has set eight Americanmade features for general release in Britain during the first half of 1947. All pictures will open at the Warner theatre in London where "A Stolen Life" is currently being shown. Included in the list are: "A Stolen Life," January 20; "Janie Gets Married," February 10 ; "Of Human Bondage," March 3; "Never Say Goodbye," March 24; "Cloak and Dagger," April 14; "Nobody Lives Forever," May 5 ; "The Time, the Place and the Girl," May 19; and "That Way With Women," June 16. UN to Meet on Media Freedom The United Nations' General Assembly, meeting at Flushing Meadow, N. Y., last Saturday adopted a resolution calling for conferences to discuss a freedom of information program to be attended by all UN members. The conferences are to be held some time in 1947 for which a sum of $28,000 has been appropriated. During the same day's session the Assembly approved a 1946 budget of $19,390,000; a $27,740,000 budget for 1947, and recommended a $20,00,000 capital working Both of these measures were approved without dissent. Earlier, it was expected the Russian delegation and delegates from Soviet dominated countries would strongly resist both measures since they previously had voiced strong disapproval of a worldwide information program in order to reduce the UN's expenditures. The proposed information program will be discussed at conferences at a place and time to be decided by the Economic and Social Council when it meets in New York in February. In part the resolution said delegations to the conference shall include "in each instance persons_actually engaged or experienced in press, radio, motion pic* tures and other media for the dissemination of information." The preamble to the resolution, made by Brigadier General Carlos Romulo of the Philippine elegation, affirmed that "freedom of information is a fundamental human right and is the touchstone of all the freedoms to which the United Nations is consecrated." Legion of Decency Reviews Four New Productions The National Legion of Decency reviewed four new films this week, approving three and condemning one. Approved and placed in Class A-I, unobjectionable for general patronage, were "Out California Way," "Wake Up and Dream" and "The Yearling." Placed in Class C, condemned, was the foreign film, "Carmen," characterized by the Legion as "very immodestly suggestve costuming; free love; suggestive situations; fatalism in theme; irreverent references to religious matters." Distinguished Films To Open "Les Miserables" Christmas The full-length film version of Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables," with a running time of three hours and 20 minutes, will have a double New York premiere on Christmas Day, it was announced Mondav by Distinguished Films, Inc. The picture will open simultaneously at Brandt's Apollo in Manhattan, and the Atlantic Playhouse in Brooklyn. Starring Harry Baur, the picture is in two parts, of which only the first, "Jean Valjean," has previously been seen in this country. "Cosette" forms the remaining part. The three judges sitting on the New York ! anti-trust case added further notations Monday to the intervention petitions of the American Theatres Association and the Conference of Southern Associations, clear J ing the way for these organizations to ap ! peal from the judges' decision denying them | the right to intervene in the suit. Thurman Arnold, ATA counsel, is now j convinced that ATA's rights are protected and the organization can now go ahead with I its appaal to the Supreme Court from the \ decision. The original notation of October 21 read I simply: "Intervention denied." , Mr. Arnold immediately announced j ATA's decision to appeal, since the organization wants to be along when and if the New York decision is appealed to the Supreme Court. The organization, however, is not interested in appealing if the competitive bidding order is eliminated from the final decree. Several weeks ago Mr. Arnold was not sure whether the notation could be interpreted as a formal order of denial, but at that [ time he stated that if a formal order were not forthcoming the notation would be considered as such and the appeal made. In answer to this indecision, the judges, in letters to ATA and CSA, wrote that no formal order of denial would be given until the decree was decided upon and handed down. There the matter rested until Monday. Monday the judges added this notation to the petitions, alongside the "intervention denied" : "Settle order on the above notice. This, in our opinion, is adequate to preserve the rights to appeal from our decision and is much simpler than taking the cumbersome step of vacating our former decision and then entering an order denying intervention." Set Inauguration Program For Mexico Variety Club A gala program for the inauguration of the Variety Club of Mexico is planned the week of January 13 in Mexico City, R. J. O'Donnell, national chief barker, has announced. The morning of January 16 in the Hotel Reforma, there will be an opening business session attended by Mexican and American Variety Club members, to be followed by the Inauguration Dinner. At this dinner Mr. O'Donnell will present the charter to the Mexican Tent. That evening the new club quarters will be opened with a cocktail party with the newly elected officers as hosts. On January 17, the Variety Club visitors will be guests of N. Peter Rathvon, RKO president, as Studios Churubusco. That night there will be a charity ball for the benefit of the club. 30 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 21, 1944