Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1947)

THIS WEEK IN THE NEWS Nobody But Gimbel's TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX'S "Miracle on 34th Street" came to New York this week, landing at the Roxy after extensive ballyhoo which included placarding the city's famed thoroughfare. On that shopping way stands one of the world's great stores, Macy's, an integral part of the picture's plot and locale. However, there is another great store, situated on 33rd Street. It is Gimbel's, which does not talk to Macy's. In Wednesday's New York newspapers the public read in the by now familiar Gimbel advertising format: "NOBODY but NOBODY could salute "Miracle on 34th Street" with more enthusiasm than the MIRACLE ON 33RD STREET, big hearted, magnanimous, friendly old Gimbel's." Harvey THE question on Broadway has been, who will be able to play the querulous visionary who alone sees Harvey in the stage play "Harvey." Frank Fay, whose identification with the role of Elwood P. Dowd has become almost complete, will take a vacation in July. This week, RKO Radio Pictures announced that its star, James Stewart, will step into the role. Color in 1912 THE Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which is collecting pictures of significance in the rise of the art medium of the film, last week gained another item for its archives, the first completely tinted subject, "The Coming of Columbus," a tworeel subject made in 1912 by Colonel William Selig. It was presented the Academy by Charles G. Clarke, 20th-Fox cinematographer. The picture, produced on Lake Michigan near Chicago, used the caravels "Nina," "Pinta" and "Santa Maria," displayed at the Columbian Exposition in that city; starred Kathlyn Williams as Queen Isabella and Charles Clary as Columbus, and required, in the tinting of each frame in Paris, the combined services of 25 artists working three months. Story FROM Ireland to America, the old tale; from immigrant to mayor of the world's greatest city, a brilliant tale ; from ignorance to brilliance as lawyer, soldier and politician, a fascinating tale. All of this, the life story of Mayor William O'Dwyer of New York will be told in film by Marathon Pictures, Harry Thomas, Producers INDUSTRY goes to capital, demanding admission tax slash Page 13 SMITH 20th-Fox sales head, as Connors resigns as vice-president Page 14 JAMES F. BYRNES joins industry as a special legal advisor Page 15 ON THE MARCH— Red Kann in comment on industry affairs Page 18 BOARD of Trade in England seen asking renter quota retention Page 20 SERVICE DEPARTMENTS From Reader Page 24 Hollywood Scene Page 28 In the Newsreels Page 44 Late Review Page 39 IN PRODUCT DIGEST SECTION Showmen's Reviews Page 3665 Advance Synopses Page 3666 Service Data Page 3667 COLUMBIA sales forces meet in Chicago to talk policy Page 22 NEW YORK to Philadelphia television cost put at $5,304 per month Page 25 NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT— Notes on industry personnel across country Page 30 ITALIAN Government determines on revision of major picture company Page 40 SCREEN tastes of average soldier found unchanged since war period Page 42 Managers' Round Table Page 47 Picture Grosses Page 53 Short Product at First Runs Page 46 What the Picture Did for Me Page 45 Release Chart by Companies Page 3668 Short Subjects Page 3669 The Release Chart Page 3670 Releasing Corporation president, announced Tuesday. The film will be "The Pride of New York," with Pat O'Brien perhaps playing Mr. O'Dwyer. Marathon Pictures' board chairman is Harry Brandt, head of the Brandt circuit, New York. Mr. Brandt has been active in the politics of the city and especially in liberal circles there. Reasons PRODUCTION costs are out of hand, and Monogram will keep its studio closed and try to persuade the unions to give B films, with limited gross potential, "special consideration," Samuel Broidy, Monogram president, explained in New York Wednesday. "We want from the unions an understanding of a picture's cost — when we start," he said. "We feel exhibitors cannot pay more now for B pictures. As it is now a B costs as much as an A in all production phases. We want the unions to allow us to make more B films." Allied Artists, highbudget subsidiary, will continue. Monogram has in release and backlog 13 pictures, aside from Westerns, he said. Monogram this week extended two years from September 1 its release deal with Monogram of Canada, a Rank company. Mr. Broidy will leave for Europe in August, planning further consideration of producing in England. By Candlelight IF INTERNATIONAL film agreements usually are signed with the proper pomp and klieg-lighted ceremony, the pact between the Motion Picture Export Association and Film Polski, signed in Warsaw a few weeks ago, certainly • was an exception. It was signed by the flickering glow of candle — the only means of illumination in the offices of the Polish Film Monopoly. Electricity has been restored to the theatres in the Polish capital, but it will be a long time before Warsaw lights in general will go on again. War devastation suffered by the city is worse than anywhere else in the world. Rank AN EARNEST of good will toward Britain's film industry was provided by the Motion Picture Association this week. Its Community Service division will distribute stills, brochures, guides, and letters to its numerous customer groups for J. Arthur Rank's "Great Expectations." For the American distributors' association to give this service to a "foreign" competitor was an act which had film industry circles commenting this week once more about the reciprocity which spokesmen for the two countries often urge. 8 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JUNE 7. 1947