Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1946)

Rank Grossed $8,000,000 in America in 1946 London Bureau Brightening the generally gloomy line of talk taken by British film industry representatives in their references to British pictures in the U. S., J. Arthur Rank told critics at his annual Christmas luncheon that British product is at last making progress in the United States. At the same time he admitted that, while Britain's films were becoming increasingly popular in the rest of the world, America constituted the industry's most difficult market. While Mr. Rank mentioned no names, American observers felt that he was clearly referring to the recent U. S. visits of Sir Alexander Korda and Sir Arthur Jarratt. Both had issued statements to the effect that British films were getting too little playing time in American theatres. Mr. Rank disclosed that his pictures had earned the unprecedented total of $8,000,000 in the United States and Latin America during 1946 and he voiced the opinion that even higher profits could be expected for 1947. In this he agrees with Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association, who has predicted that British films will earn $10,000,000 in the U. S. during 1947. Heralding the possible acquisition of more theatres in the U. S. or the adoption of other means to bring British films to American audiences, Mr. Rank, in referring to his acquisition of other theatres throughout the world, said "we have still to establish ourselves in America." He concluded his talk with admonition to his producers to keep delivering the goods and called 1947 a year of great expectation. Falls Chief Barker of Oklahoma Variety Club H. R. Falls, Oklahoma City, vice-president of Griffith-Southwestern Theatres, was named chief barker of the Variety Club of Oklahoma, Tent 22, at the organization's annual election in Oklahoma City. He succeeds Ralph Talbot, Tulsa theatre owner, who was named chief barker emeritus and a member of the board of directors. Other officials include C. H. Weaver, first assistant chief barket ; Edward Kidwell, second assistant, and C. R. Guthrie, chief dough guy. The session was climaxed by presentation of Variety's national award for outstanding charity work to the tent for its provision of the $48,000 Variety Club Health Center for Negroes recently completed at Tulsa. To Release India Film Mayer and Burstyn, Inc., will release "Shakuntala," an Indian film, in America during January. The picture, from the classic by Kalidasas, was produced and directed by V. Shantaram whose wife, Jayashree, plays the title role. FROM REAPER SEES SMALLER THEATRES BEING FORCED OUT To the Editor of the Herald : I have been a steady reader of your trade magazine for the past 10 years (excepting three years I spent in the service). I take other trade magazines, but, as far as I am concerned, they are not up to yours. Permit me to put down a few trade observations : The outcome of the present court decree may spell the end of many of your smaller theatres and, in some towns, may mean a change from full to part time. It looks as though they are forcing us to raise prices to the level of first runs in larger cities. This, along with the rise in product prices, may spell defeat to some of the smaller part-time theatres. The money for high admissions just is not there. When they force us into the price class of de luxe theatres and, at the same time, don't let us make the necessary profit to put us into that class, we are bound to close. In the past ten years there has been a constant trend towards higher admissions. A picture's production cost is no barometer for what it will do in Chesterhill. If I were to blame this outburst on the courts, I would also have to blame the heads of the film industry. They were given a chance to go straight in the consent decree (blocks of five), but did they do it? No. Salesmen would approach you and if you did not buy that block they would return with another block. Only this time they'd double the price to make up for the pictures you refused before. You, or anyone else, will not get anywhere with the exhibitors until we are given a fair deal. The OPA could set the price of sandwiches, but not the amount of ham in them. The companies will get no place by just setting prices. It's quality we want, along with the prices. The exhibitor is not interested in the brainstorms of some of the directors or the fabulous sums spent on productions. He merely wants to see his margin of profit after he finishes the engagement. I believe that if pictures in communities with a population of 30,000 and less were sold .on a flat rental basis and the exhibitors were given a chance to exploit and make a decent profit, your court ruling would be over. History of court decrees in the past shows that the results usually represent a burden for the small fellow and there Is little hope that things will be any different in this case. — Delmar L. Walker, Chesterhill Theatre, Chesterhill, Ohio. Buy Television Rights The Radio Cinema Theatres Corporation of California has purchased the motion picture rights to a television production, Richards Rodgers, president of the Dramatists Guild, and John F. Royal, NBC vice-president in charge of television, have announced. The transaction marks the first time that an original script, first produced on television, has been bought by a motion picture concern for film production. Jackson Park Lawyer to File Buffalo Action Chicago Bureati Thomas C. McConnell, lawyer for the victorious Jackson Park theatre, Chicago, will file a $1,000,000 triple damage anti-trust suit late in January on behalf of the Rivoli theatre, outlying house in Buffalo, N. Y., naming the major distributors and the Shea Circuit. The suit will be filed in the U. S. District Court for the Western District of New York. The Shea Circuit, operating four downtown and five outlying houses in Buffalo, is owned one-third by local Buffalo interests, one-third by Loew's and one-third by Paramount. The Rivoli is owned by the Rivoli Operating Company, with Stanley Kozanowski, one of the principal owners. The Rivoli, it is reported, at one time played 30 days after the conclusion of downtown Buffalo runs. Mr. McConnell told the Herald's Chicago bureau that the Shea Circuit purchased the Roosevelt theatre, a house competing with the Rivoli and withheld product from the Rivoli from 70 to 90 days after the conclusion of downtown runs. According to Mr. McConnell, the Roosevelt, after being taken into the Shea Circuit, first played 14 days ahead of the Rivoli, then 10 and finally four days. Under an arbitration award won about six months ago, the Rivoli was given day and date playing time with the Roosevelt. Mr. McConnell's suit will ask for $1,000,000 damages based on damages allegedly sustained for the six-year period prior to filing the suit. Arbitor Dismisses Demand for Availability After 10 Days William A. Porteous, Jr., arbitrator in a complaint brought before the New Orleans tribunal of the American Arbitration Association, has dismissed a demand to secure availability of pictures 10 days after national release on the ground that such a decision would be beyond his jurisdiction under the Consent Decree. However, Mr. Porteous ordered abolition of all clearance in contracts between the Palace theatre, Rodessa, La., and 20th-Fox, RKO, Paramount and Warner Bros. The complaint against MGM was dismissed because the company had no clearance provisions in its contract with the complainant. Finding himself limited on the question of availability, the arbitrator expressed no opinion on whether the complainant should receive any relief, but left the door open for future demands. Noye to 20th-Fox Mexico Allen M. Noye has been appointed manager for Twentieth Century-Fox in Mexico. Former manager for the company in Colombia, he replaces Joseph G. Mullen, granted a leave of absence due to illness. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 28, 1946 29