Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1947)

International Films THE ROLE of motion pictures in national bi-partisan foreign policy was praised Tuesday in Washington by Eric A. Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association. Speaking to a large audience at the Washington Advertising Club in the Hotel Staffer's Congressional Room, Mr. Johnston stated that "the motion picture is a vital element in the exchange of information so that peoples everywhere can understand each other better." Hollywood's pictures, he believes, should be free from propaganda since "the best propaganda is no propaganda at all. The best way to show American life is to show it as it actually is." Then, taking the bit between his teeth, he announced :"The only way to peace is better understanding among nations through the exchange of information among them." That can be done by motion pictures — a "mass medium of communication." The motion picture industry, he asserted, must feel its responsibility internationally as well as nationally. Representatives from most Washington picture company offices and key theatremen were on the dais with Mr. Johnston. Anxious WANT TO KNOW how popular American features are in Rumania? Well, early last week Paramount's "Reap the Wild Wind" was to open at the Eforia theatre, Bucharest, at 9 o'clock in the morning. By 7 a. m. the customers began to assemble. At 8 o'clock the crowd had spread out into the street, blocking traffic. Police were summoned. The impatient fans broke through the cordon of police, smashed windows and unhinged the exterior lobby doors of the theatre and forcefully demonstrated their interest. According to Nicholas Cazazis, Motion Picture Export Association manager for the country, since American features have been brought back to Rumania there has been so much physical damage done to theatres by overflow crowds that Bucharest civic authorities have enacted an ordinance forbidding exhibitors to sell more tickets than house seating capacity. Picture Library ATLANTA'S new $1,700,000 library, for which the city voted funds last summer, may include a Department of Motion Pictures if Aubrey Milam, president of the Carnegie Library board of trustees has his way. Mr. Milam would like to have a film library including historical data on the development of the industry, scenes from early films, models of productions, lots, cameras and projection equipment and similar displays. Said Mr. Milam Monday in Atlanta : "I think the application of motion photography in teaching has only begun and a Department of Motion Pictures would be something unique in libraries in the south and maybe in the country." PEOPLE Eisenstein Interview PHONE STRIKE or no, Boston newspapermen interviewed Serge Eisenstein, director of "Ivan the Terrible," in Moscow last Monday via the long distance lines. George Kraska, who opened "Ivan" in his Kenmore theatre, Boston, Wednesday, arranged the interview. The second installment of "Ivan" is underway, reported Eisenstein, and will be completed in September. It will have many sequences in color. The Russian director felt that his picture should be popular in America because it has as its theme the problem of unification of a country, a problem which America once had. He wanted to be assured that he would be welcomed in America because he hoped to visit here again. At the American Embassy he had seen, he reported, "It's a Wonderful Life," which he liked for its fine human touches, and "The Kid from Brooklyn," which he considered very amusing. Emergency HOW to reach the public was the urgent problem for theatremen advertising their wares in St. Louis this week. They couldn't use the newspapers, which were struck ; the telephones, also struck ; and even the leading radio station, KXOK, the ABC network cable of which had been severed. The Loew and Fanchon and Marco circuits immediately concentrated on smaller radio stations, using increased "spot plugs." No Tippling NO LIQUOR for Shakespeare. Last week the Shakespeare Memorial theatre in Stratford-on-Avon applied for a liquor license and was turned down. E. G. Beresford, attorney representing liquor-licensed hotels in the area, said, acording to the Associated Press, "what is sought here is to finance production of the drama through pub keeping." Canon Noel Prentice, Vicar of Stratford, thought that if the license were granted, "people who have venerated the theatre as a temple of art fear that it might become a temple of Bacchus." James A. Pepper, formerly Warner managed in Peru, has been transferred to Puerto Rico in a similar capacity, Wolfe Cohen, vice-president of Warner International, announced in New York Monday. Mr. Pepper will make his headquarters in San Juan. Charles Chaplin, Harold Lloyd and Groucho Marx will receive the New York Herald Tribune's Fresh Air Fund plaques at a dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York May 23. The awards are a tribute to their 25 or more years in the entertainment business making people laugh. Lewen Pizor, president of the United Motion Picture Theatre Owners and independent circuit head in Philadelphia, has • been named director of the building expansion fund drive of the Metropolitan Hospital in Philadelphia. Harry H. Walders has been appointed manager of RKO Radio's exchange in Cleveland, Robert Mochrie, vice-president and general sales manager, announced in New York Monday, Mr. Walders, who has been with the company's Chicago office since 1933, succeeds A. Kolitz, recently promoted to Rocky Mountain district manager. William R. Deering, formerly of MGM's talent department and a Broadway stage producer, is now manager of the Hartford talent and model agency in New York formed by Mr. Deering and Huntington Hartford. William Barnett has purchased the interests held in the Massce-Barnett Co., of New York, by William Massce. The firm handles foreign shipments for film companies. Albert S. Howson, scenario editor and director of censorship for Warner Brothers, will be master of ceremonies at the annual Luncheon of the Milk and Egg League, to be held May 6 at the Hotel Astor in New York. Ted R. Gamble, chairman of the board of the American Theatres Association and former national director of the Treasury Department's War Finance Division, was guest speaker at the Army Day Dinner in Louisville, Ky., last Saturday. John Markle has been appointed managing director of the Broadway theatre in New York for United Artists. Mr. Markle handled "Henry V" engagements for the company as special representative in Boston and Philadelphia. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, published every Saturday by Quigley publishing Company, Rockefeller Center, New York City 20. Telephone Circle 7-3100; Ccble address "Ouigpubco, New York," Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo. J. Sullivan, Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; Terry Ramsaye, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor; James D. Ivers, News Editor; Charles S. Aaronson, Production Editor; Ray Gollcgher, Advertising Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Bureaus: Hollywood, William R. Weaver, editor, Postal Union Life Building; Chicago, Hal Tate, 624 South Michigan Avenue; Washington, J. A. Otten, 2525 Ontario Rd., N.W., 9; London, Hope Williams Burnup, manager, Peter Burnup, editor, 4 Golden Square, W. I.; Toronto, W. M. Gladish, 242 Millwood Road; Paris, Maurice Bessy, 2 Avenue Matignon; Dublin, T. J. M. Sheehy, 36 Upper Ormond Quay; Rome, Argeo Santucci, 10 Via Versilia; Lisbon, Joao De Moraes Palmero, Avenida Conde Valbom i 16; Brussels, Louis Quievreux, 121 Rue Beeckman; Amsterdam, Philip de Schaap; 82 Jeketstraat; Copenhagen, Kris Winther, Bogehoi 25; Stockholm, Gosta Erkell, 15 Brantingsgaten; Budapest, Alexander Fodor, XIV Nurnberg ucca 47; Zurich, Carlo Fedier, c/o Cine Suisse, K«ppelergasse 13; Prague, Joseph B. Kanturek, Cechovo nam I; Sydney, Cliff Holt, Box 2608 — G.P.O. Derwent House; Johannesburg, R. N. Barrett, 10, Blyth Road, Talboton; Mexico City, Luis Becerra Celis, Dr. Carmona y Valle 6; Havana, Charles B. Garrett, Refugio 168; Buenos Aires, Natalio Bruski, J. E. Uriburi 126; San Juan, Puerto Rico, Ernesto Sanchez Ortiz, P.O. Box 1043; Montevideo, Paul Bodo, Calle Francisco Bouza 3662; Sao Paulo, Brazil, I. A. Ekerman, Ruo Gucianazes 159; Santiago, Chile, Maria Romero, Revista "Ecran," Bellavista 069; Caracas, Venezuela, Mrs. Frank M. Caldwell, Apartado 1706. Member Audit Bureau of Circulations. Other Quigley Publications: Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Motion Picture Daily, International Motion Picture Almanac and Fame. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, APRIL 19, 1947 9