Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1947)

THIS WEEK IN THE NEWS QP Service AT NOON on the ninth day of the telephone strike the switchboard operator in the Hollywood office of Quigley Publications plugged in a buzz and heard a voice say, "This is the McKeesport, Pa., operator. Can you tell me Gene Autry's address?'' The address was given, the McKeesport operator said "Thank you," and the telephone strike went on. High Taxes London Bureau THE CHANCELLOR of the Exchequer, Hugh Dalton, has reported that the entertainment tax collected for the year ending March 31 reached the all-time high of £53,392,000, against an estimate of £50,000,000 ($200,000,000). Since 90 per cent of the total entertainment tax yield is commonly reckoned to come from motion picture theatres, it may be said that cinema audiences contributed to the revenue in direct theatre seat taxation about £48,000,000 in one year. Led by Sir Alexander Boyne King, exhibitors had made fervent representations to the Government for a reduction in the incidence of the tax. Not unexpectedly, the Chancellor wouldn't agree. Common feeling in the trade, indeed, is that theatremen are fortunate in not having the tax increased. Dry Bombay FROM MONOGRAM comes the word that Bombay is going dry. Their representative has informed the company that the Government in Bombay has notified the Bombay Board of Film Censors that all drinking scenes are to be eliminated from pictures submitted for censorship after April 1, 1947, and that after April 1, 1948, all such scenes will have to be eliminated from pictures previously passed by the censors. In the meantime, only such drinking scenes as are necessary for the continuity of the story will be retained. The Government, it is explained, has decided on a policy of prohibition. The program began April 1 and the strings will be gradually tightened for four years after which there is to be total prohibition. "Duel" in England London Bureau THE LARGEST advertising campaign known here for years ,js currently under way for "Duel in the Sun." The cost of the campaign has been estimated at such a figure that there is considerable eyebrow raising among experts here. The comment has been made publicly that David O. Selznick's SEVEN majors releasing twenty-nine reissues this season Page 12 CONGRESS moving to impose drastic curbs on labor unions Page 16 ON THE MARCH— Rad Kann in comment on industry affairs Page 1 8 NAME area committees for Motion Picture Foundation organization Page 20 NEW British censor, Sir Sidney Harris, hates censorship Page 22 SERVICE DEPARTMENTS Hollywood Scene Page 30 In the Newsreels Page 45 Managers' Round Table Page 49 IN PRODUCT DIGEST SECTION Showmen's Reviews Page 3597 Shor+ Subjects page 3598 Advance Synopses Page 3599 HONOR Ed Fa y 's 50 years as citizen-showman of Providence Page 23 20TH-FOX reports year net profit at a record $22,619,535 Page 24 EXHIBITOR readers in vigorous expression on current problems Page 25 NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT— Notes on industry personnel across country Page 34 PLANS announced for production of French films in Holland Page 44 Picture Grosses Page 55 Short Product at First Runs Page 46 What the Picture Did for Me Page 47 Release Chart by Companies Page 3600 Service Data Page 3601 The Release Chart Page 3602 agents should drop their ballyhoo and get on with the showing of the picture. But there's the rub. Shorn of its U. A. affiliation, Selznick had no physical distributing machinery. It is the fact that Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has offered to buy the film, lock, stock and barrel. Meanwhile, there is an offer from Paramount of a West End opening at the select Carlton and it is likely that Selznick will accept this with May 16 as the opening date. The question of the physical selling to independent theatres is still in the air. A Selznick publicity expert had the idea of flying some of the stars of the picture here, but when he found that was impossible he began toying with the idea of flying the horse, which has an important part in the feature, to London and letting it cavort about the stage on opening night. "Libel on India" THE BOARD of censors for the India province of Punjab has banned "Anna and the King of Siam" after a protest filed by Capt. Anant Singh, editor of the magazine Filmo. According to the Associated Press, Mr. Singh was hopping mad, stating: "The picture is a vile and monstrous misrepresentation of Eastern peoples, Siam and the Siamese being made the butt of horrible ridicule. A libel on Siam and the Siamese people is a libel on India." Slow Speed NOT a New Yorker will be ignorant of David O. Selznick's "Duel in the Sun" when it opens May 7 in 37 Loew theatres in their city. As his Vanguard Films publicity department put it, Wednesday, the campaign, which "got under way in real earnest" and is a "land-air-and-SEE penetration," comprises the following items : A mobile trailer unit. A specially lighted blimp. A street parade, with a special float. Displays on all Railway Express and American News trucks. And more. It may be that on the night of May 7, some of the overflow crowds may have to see other pictures at other theatres. THESE slow motion cameras they've been putting out recently get even slower — or faster, have it your way. Now comes one invented by K. M. Baird, which will photograph at the rate of 200,000 frames per second. It will photograph more than rifle bullets in air ; it may even stop the motion of a bartender's elbow. "Sit in the Sun 99 RUSSELL BIRDWELL will "sit in the sun for a while and then take the best offer." This announcement from Hollywood Wednesday meant that the press agent for a number of controversial causes, including Howard Hughes' "The Outlaw," has shut up shop. One of his last clients was the city of Yonkers. a MOTION PICTURE HERALD, APRIL 26, 1947