Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1947)

Paramount Net in Third Quarter At $8,105,000 MINNEAPOLIS TOTAL 931 A statistical summary of the Minneapolis directory, another in the series of 11 theatre directories compiled by the Motion Picttire Association in its census of U. S. theatres by exchange territories, was released this week. MINNEAPOLIS EXCHANGE TERRITORY statistical Summary ^' Seating Number Capacity Theatres in operation 884 369,427 Closed theatres 47 1 1,675 Totals 931 381.102 Breen^ in Reply To Allied^ Cites Legion Figures Joseph I. Breen, Production Code Administrator, this week in Hollywood cited records of motion picture classifications by the National Legion of Decency from November, 1943, to November, 1947, in answer to charges in an Allied States Association bulletin that "the situation of indecency in motion pictures has again been allowed to get out of hand." In an airmail letter to Abram F. Myers, chairman and general counsel of Allied States, released in Hollywood Tuesday, Mr. Breen said : ". . . your statement implies that since Mr. (Eric) Johnston assumed the presidency of (the Motion Picture) Association about two years ago, there has been a marked increase in the number of unacceptable motion pictures improperly approved by the Production Code Administration. For all practical purposes, I am chiefly responsible for the day-by-day operation of the Production Code Administration— subject always, of course, to Mr. Johnston's supervision and guidance. "The implications in your statement," Mr. Breen's letter continued, "regarding the great increase in the number of unacceptable pictures approved by the Production Code Administration since Mr. Johnston began his tenure of office, are utterly false." Mr. Breen cited figures and percentages of the Legion of Decency's classifications on 1,544 pictures during the four -year period. Mr. Breen said that of this total Seating Number Capacity Circuit-operated theatres* ... 188 127,666 Non-circuit theatres 743 253,436 ■ Totals 931 381,102 679 were in the A-1 category — unobjectionable for general patronage; 621 were found unobjectionable for adults ; 193 were classified as objectionable in part, and two were classified "C" or condemned, by the Legion. "During this four-year period, two pictures approved by the Production Code Administration are classified as 'C,' 'both during the year of 1947," the letter said. "These two pictures are the British produced 'Black Narcissus' and 'Forever Amber.' " Mr. Breen used the Legion's figures to show the number of acceptable films had increased. "During the two year-pre Johnston period (1943-45) — the avei'age percentage of pictures classified as A-1 (general patronage) is 42 per cent; the two-year period since Mr. Johnston came into the industry shows, in this same category, the figure of 46 per cent." Analyzing all the pictures classified by the Legion in the four-year period Mr. Breen concluded by saying: "It seems to me that in the face of these figures, it is not true to say that there has been any 'laxity in Code enforcement' or that there is any 'situation of indecency' in pictures. Except for the two pictures which were classified as 'C during 1947, the over-all record would appear to indicate that there has been no 'letdown' in the enforcement of the Production Code, and no increase in 'indecency' on the screen." Form Times Film Corp. Jean Goldwrum and George Schwartz have formed Times Film Corporation for the distribution of foreign pictures. Their first release will be the Italian film "To Live in Peace." Another Italian film purchased by the company is "The Bandit." Paramount Pictures, Inc., last week estimated its earnings for the third quarter ended October 4, 1947, at $8,105,000 after all charges, including estimated provision for taxes on income. This amount includes $1,147,000 representing Paramount's direct and indirect net interest as a stockholder in the combined undistributed earnings for the quarter of partially owned non-consolidated subsidiaries. Earnings for the quarter ended September 28, 1946, were estimated at $12,085,000, including $1,891,000 share of undistributed earnings of partially owned non-consolidated subsidiaries. Earnings for the nine months ended October 4, 1947, on the same basis are estimated at $25,512,000, including $4,336,000 share of undistributed earnings of partially owned non-consolidated subsidiaries, while earnings for the first nine months of 1946 were estimated at $33,877,000, including $6,031,000 share of undistributed earnings of partially owned non-consolidated subsidiaries. The $8,105,000 of estimated combined consolidated and share of undistributed eai'nings for the quarter represent $1.15 per share on the 7,020,972 shares outstanding and in the hands of the public on October 4, 1947, which compares with $1.61 per share for the quarter ended September 28, 1946, on 7,504,272 shares then outstanding. Computed on the same basis, the $25,512,000 of estimated combined consolidated and share of undistributed earnings for the nine months of 1947 represent $3.63 per share, which compares with $4.51 per share for the first nine months of 1946. Wall Street Says Liberty Got Paramount Shares Wall Street financial circles reported last week that the 135,000 shares of Paramount common issued by the company's treasury last week, went to Liberty Films, which has been acquired by Paramount. Closing of that deal was delayed until last month because of a Treasury Department ruling that the exchange of Paramount and Liberty stock was a capital gains transaction. The 135,000 shares are currently valued at $3,000,000, it is reported. New BBC Transmission A method for transmission of a television broadcast, taken previously from the screen of a television receiver and recorded on film, was demonstrated recently by the British Broadcasting Company. According to BBC, the method is not good enough to repeat programs depending on production subtleties for their effect. However, an effort is under way to devise a means to record television broadcasts much in the same manner in which sound broadcasting is recorded. Seating capacity of theatres now in operation, according to populati on groupings: No. of Average Cumu Theatres Cumu Number Cumu Seats lative Oper lative of lative Per Population Towns Total ofing Total Seats Total Theatre 500,000-250,001 2 (Mpls. ) 94 80,179 853 (St. Paul) 250,000-100,001 1 (Duluth) 3 12 106 8,732 88,91 1 728 50,000 25,001 6 9 34 140 25,438 1 14,349 748 25,000 10,00! 20 29 54 194 34,627 148,976 641 10,000 5,001 36 65 66 260 38,779 187,755 588 5,000 2.50! 41 106 55 315 28,664 216,419 52! 2,500 and under 558 664 569 884 153,008 369,427 269 *A circuit is defined as "four or more" theatres operated by the same manag-ement. 24 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 22, 1947