Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1947)

S. C. Cambata British Gains in India Cited by Bombay Owner The business methods of J. Arthur Rank and the allegedly harsh terms demanded hy American companies may win the Indian market for British distribution and exhibition, Shiavax C. Cambata, Bombay exhibitor, warned last week. In New York to study exhibition and equipment, Mr. Cambata, owner of coal mines, restaurants and an importingand exporting business, said that although Indians have had a prejudice against British pictures, their rising quality has forced a reappraisal. Additionally Mr. Rank's agents, in attempting to acquire theatres and sell pictures, are using "methods very attractive to Indians." Mr. Cambata "would not be surprised to find Mr. Rank soon with the best theatres in India." His own theatre is the Eros, of Bombay, which he describes as the country's most modern. His plans are to erect theatres in Calcutta, Lahore and Karachi, each equally first class, using if possible English language pictures. Mr. Cambatta said he might be forced to use British rather than American pictures. "I find American companies willing to play my theatre and willing to" give me product for my planned houses," he said, " but some of them ask 60 per cent. They are what I suppose you would call 'hard nuts.' They do not seem to look into the revenue of theatres. First class theatres must maintain standards, and cannot afford such terms." Wants "Proper" Terms "If I do not get proper terms, I simply will not build my circuit. I do not intend to find I am working for someone else. "I do not see any equipment here which I have not got now in the Eros. My house has precisely the same RCA equipment as the Radio City Music Hall. It has seats, designed by me, and manufactured by the American Seating Company. It has a special, modern screen. The only thing it hasn't got, and which I don't want, is a carpet." Carpets, Mr. Cambata explained are inadvisable in the tropics because they cannot be cleaned or disinfected. Traveling with his wife, Mr. Cambata will go next to Hollywood, then return to New York, will then visit London, and then return to India. Short Product in First Run Houses NEW YORK— Week of May 5 CAPITOL: Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Mouse. MGM Feature: Duel in the Sun Selznick CRITERION: Big House Blues Columbia Feature: Odd Man Out Universal GLOBE: Big Time Revue . Warner Bros. Goofy Groceries Warner Bros. Feature: The Macomber Affair United Artists HOLLYWOOD: The Forgotten Casualty 20th Cent.-Fox Rabbit Transit Warner Bros. Feature: The Two Mrs. Carrolls Warner Bros. MUSIC HALL: Storm Over Britain ' 20th Cenf.-Fox Feature: The Egg and I Universal PALACE: Racing Sleuth. . RKO Frank Duck Brings 'Em Back Alive RKO Feature: Born To Kill RKO PARAMOUNT: Abusement Park. . .Paramount Iced Lightning Paramount Feature: Calcutta Paramount R/VOLJ: ice Skippers RKO Pepifo's Serenade United Artists Feature: The Farmer's Daughter RKO ROX1T: Dead End Cats 20fh Cent.-Fox Harvest of the Sea 20th Cent.-Fox Feature: The Homestretch 20th Cent.-Fox STRAND: Hobo Bobo . ., Warner Bros. Song of a Nation Warner Bros. Arrow Magic Warner Bros. Feature: Love and Learn Warner Bros. WINTER GARDEN: Coo-coo Birds. ..Universal Feature: Carnegie Hall United Artists Johnston Pledges Aid In Hollywood Red Hunt Eric A. Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association, Thursday in Washington assured Representative J. Parnell Thomas, chairman of the House Un-American Activities Committee, that Mr. Thomas would have cooperation from the entire industry in the committee's investigation of Hollywood. Mr. Thomas is the head of a three-man sub-committee of the Un-American Activities Committee which is scheduled to investigate Communist activities in Hollywood. Other members are Representatives Wood of Georgia and McDowell of Pennsylvania. IV. Y. Insurance Rate Rises 25% Effective May 5 a blanket increase of 25 per cent in the fire insurance rates was placed on New York state's 1,500 theatres by the State Insurance Department. According to the Department, the reasons for the general increase are that since 1944 there has been an increase in property values, labor and materials costs and an increase in fire losses. Other properties had their insurance rates increased from five to 30 per cent. According to the Department, the average increase was 8.7 per cent. However, further adjustments ■ may be made when the regular fiveyear revision in the insurance rates is made after 1947 losses are tallied, the Insurance Department added. The increase will affect some theatres more severely than others, although the increase is a blanket one. This is because theatre premiums are based on the type of construction and the theatre's location. Armand on Lost Plane Victor Armand, a veteran Winnipeg, Canada, employee • of Famous Players Canadian, is one of 15 passengers aboard a plane which, at midweek, was still missing after several days on a flight to Vancouver. Mr. Armand is western division manager. House Reduces Screen Budgets W ashington Bureau The House Appropriations Committee Monday drastically cut the 1948 budgets of several bureaus indirectly affecting the industry, but approved a large increase in the funds for the anti-trust division. As previously reported, the committee denied the $31,000,000 requested for the State Department's information and cultural program, including more than $3,000,000 asked for the International Motion Picture Division, which had planned an expanded program. Monday Secretary of State George C. Marshall urged that the information and cultural program be continued. Representative John Taber, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, which killed the appropriation, said he still saw no reason why the program should be restored. Funds for the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, in which motion picture consultant Nathan Golden works, and for the State Department's Office of International Trade Policy, under which industry adviser George Canty works, were also cut. However, it has been generally reported that these divisions will so administer the reduced funds that neither Mr. Golden or Mr. Canty will be affected. The anti-trust division received $2,400,000, which is $280,000 more than last year but $100,000 less than asked by the Government. The increased appropriation is certain to mean more vigorous enforcement by the division. Mason To Make Own Film James Mason, British film star, is forming his own production company and at least one picture has been set to go before the cameras in the autumn, it was understood in New York this week. The film probably will be shot in Canada, with some exteriors to be shot in Britain. No actors have been signed so far. The story will deal with the problem of German war prisoners. B4 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, MAY 10, 1947