Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1947)

LABOR TILT HALTS MEXICAN STUDIOS by LUIS BECERRA CELIS in Mexico City After 25 days of a complete work stoppage, due to salary disputes, production resumed Monday in Mexico studios with the start of four features. Not a single Mexican picture was before the cameras during the almost month-long period. Work was first restricted to films that began production before the producers and players, directors and other technicians, as well as manual workers, disagreed on the producers' proposition that the employees take salary cuts, in some cases as much as 50 per cent, as a prime part of the producers' retrenchment program. Just when the conflict was about to be settled the producers said no because the technicians and manual workers sections of the Picture Production Workers Union demanded wage increases of from eight' to 12 per cent. That, said the producers, was the monkey wrench that ruined the works. The studio stoppage left but two features in production in Mexico, both American, Warners' "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" and Twentieth Century-Fox's "Casanova." The Producers' Association, in announcing with the Picture Production Workers union the making of the peace, said the new pact represents a 30' per cent saving for production. Both the producers and the union declare the pact was signed "amid an atmosphere of frank cordiality." A record number of features, 147, was shown in Mexico during the first five months of 1947. AUSTRALIA by CLIFF HOLT in Sydney A strongly organized campaign for tightened censorship laws has been launched by the South Australian Council of Social Services, which advocates the appointment •of a child psychologist to advise the Commonwealth Censorship Board, the appointment of a State Films Commission, and State supervision of trailers and ads. Other demands in the Council's nine-point program include segregation of children accompanied by adults to a reserved section •of the theatre, the appointment of school teachers to attend film previews, and appointment of a vigilance committee to report on advertisements, posters and trailers. The Council also wants the State Minister of Education to investigate the effect of films on children. The Council's campaign has been launched somewhat belatedly, since the South Australian Government already has agreed with the Commonwealth Government's suggestion that its censorship regulations should be amended to bring them into line with those of other States so that censorship throughout Australia may be made uniform. V Construction of modern studios at a cost of £150,000 ($600,000) has been undertaken by Commonwealth Film Laboratories. The studios will be close to Sydney and will be rented to outside producers. Plans call for two sound stages, administrative offices, cutting and editing rooms, a theatre and restaurant, dressing rooms and workshops. BELGIUM by LOUIS QUIEVREUX in Brussels Foreign critics of American features are promised serious attention by Eric A. Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association. In a preface written for a portfolio describing the American features entered in the current Brussels World Film Festival, Mr. Johnston wrote : "Our participation signifies a desire to exchange with other nations information on motion picture art and technique, to the end that producers everywhere may set and reach higher standards. It also signifies our desire to exchange ideas on all subjects with men of every race and nation on the face of the globe. . . . We look forward to your critical estimates of our films and we intend to put them to practical use in order that our product may ever increase in appeal throughout the world." V Speaking at the inauguration of the Festival, Pierre Vermeylen, the Socialist Home Minister and chairman of the festival, created a sensation when he stated : "The Italian film producers are now the feared rivals of that terrible Goliath which is American production. Though they (the Italians) have been working under difficult conditions, they may well be the victors in this contest." The speech was made in the presence of the Italian ambassador. BRAZIL by I. A. EKERMAN in Rio de Janeiro Production in this country is getting a new lease on life with signs pointing to greatly increased activity along this line. Plans for a Cinema City, to be located in Rio de Janeiro County within easy distance of the capital, have been drawn up by a group of investors. The project has the approval of the Governor of the State of Rio. The studios would cover a space of some 25 million square meters (6,250, acres). Other reports say Luis Severiano Ribeiro, circuit operator and producer, has acquired the San Luis studios. Mr. Ribeiro, Jr., will be in charge of production. A number of foreign interests also have their eye on this country as a good production center. A group backed by Italian and Argentine money is planning erection of a studio in Sao Paulo. French and American interests are considering building a studio in Rio. Reflecting this increased interest in local production, Brazilian exhibitors are blueprinting plans for the expansion and reequipment of their theatres. The number of houses now operating in this country is estimated to be about 1,500. PORTUGAL by JOAO DE MORAES PALMEIRO in Lisbon A recent Government order has created the so-called Gremio Nacional dos Espectaculos (The National Organization of Show Business) which incorporates all Portuguese show business enterprises, taking in the stage, the cinema, sports and bullfights. The president of this new corporative association is Antonio Lopes Ribeiro, a former newspaper man, stage director and exhibitor-producer-distributor. The film section of the organization will be divided into four departments : studios and laboratories ; production ; distribution, and exhibition. Two other members of the film industry, whose names have not yet been announced, will assist Mr. Ribeiro. Former distributor and exhibitor associa J tions are herewith dissolved with the new association to rule over all show business. ! The news of this reorganization has been ' received with great interest in show business circles. There will undoubtedly be a number of new dispositions made in the film j industry, tying in with the Portuguese Film | Quota Law which goes into the final discussion stage when the National Assembly reopens next November. However, the law has been in legal force since last January 1, I V The release of Portuguese-made pictures has increased since the publication of . the Quota Law some weeks past. Three such pictures are now playing Lisbon first-runs. 1 3 Latin American Branches Planned for Eagle-Lion Eagle-Lion will open 13 branches in Central and South America by next February, according to statements made last week in Hollywood by Sam Seidelman, head of foreign distribution for Eagle-Lion. Mr. Seidelman will open the first branch in Mexico City early in July. To Show Reels in England Telenews' international newsreel, the Telenews Digest, will be shown in all the Monseigneur Newsreel theatres in England. 32 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JUNE 21, 1947