Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1948)

THE HOLLYWOOD SCENE Impact of British — U, S. Deal on Production Is Worrying Hollywood by WILLIAM R. WEAVER Hollywood Editor The production level stood unchanged at 32 for the third week in succession, as seven pictures were completed and seven others started, but professional Hollywood's spirits, long sustained by hopes of a production upsurge just around the corner, sagged sharply when guild and union officials, meeting at midweek on another matter, compared notes with respect to the local import of the new Anglo-American pact and the resultant imminent increase of American production abroad. It had taken a bit of time for them to analyze the effect of the new deal on Hollywood in terms of employment, and none of the officials who had analyzed it were prepared to suggest measures of counteraction, but alarm was unanimous. And it was underscored by the California Bureau of Labor Statistics' monthly report, which showed that employment in motion picture production for the month of March had reached the lowest point in modern times. Screen Actors Guild Sees Hardship on Members From the point of view of the Hollywood professional, the picture shapes up about like this, as guild and union officials unofficially describe it: The Screen Actors Guild view is that the British limitation on the sending of American players to England to work in American pictures produced there — which figures out at the rate of two players per picture — is going to work severe hardship on its members if American producers go through with any thing like the splurge of overseas production they have announced. The Screen Directors Guild is studying the future implications of British limitations which in 1947 permitted only five foreign directors to work in England and permits only seven to do so in 1948. (Britain limits the use of foreign -directors to 10 per cent of the number of "first features" produced in that country). The Screen Writers Guild, due to a reciprocal agreement with its British equivalent, anticipates no difficulty, although its reliance is strictly upon that organization's recommendations in behalf of American writers. Craft Unions Face Fact Technicians Do Not Go The craft unions are faced with the flat fact that no American technicians of any kind can be taken over to work on an American producer's pictures made in England. Considered strictly in terms of employment, the implications of the pact are giving Hollywood guild and union heads much to think about, but they are considering the prospect in other terms as well. None are taking at face value the recent reports to the effect that not more than a dozen American pictures will be made in England this year, for they know that many more than that are planned. And the more thorough among the officials studying the portents point out that the pattern of limitation established by Britain is quite likely to be adopted by other nations in which similar monetary conditions prevail, and in many of which American production is planned. Finally, in the not unselfish view of the professional who regards Hollywood as the natural capital of film production, there is the unencouraging prospect of a flow of films bearing American trademarks which, made in England with English players, settings, etc., will actually be British pictures in all visible respects. The more pessimistic predict for Hollywood the ultimate status of a sort of ghost town, where little pictures would be ground out more or less regularly, and sound stages, scarcer than gold two years back, could be leased at bargains by used car dealers. This type of prediction got no laughs. The more optimistic argued that American film companies have a greater stake in Hollywood than in all their frozen foreign assets added together, and will not go too far in the presently indicated course, but the optimists were in minority. Bette Davis and Montgomery In Warners' "June Bride" Warner Brothers started "June Bride," a Henry Blanke production, directed by Bretaigne Windust, co-starring Bette Davis and Robert Montgomery, with Fay Bainter and Betty Lynn in support. Universal International launched "You Gotta Stay Happy," a Rampart Production, with Joan Fontaine, James Stewart, Eddie Albert and Roland Young. Karl Tunberg is writer-producer, and H. C. Pottex is directing. Producer Harry M. Popkin went to work on "My Dear Secretary," a Cardinal Picture for release through United Artists, presenting Laraine Day, Kirk Douglas, Rudy \^allee and Keenan Wynn. Charles Martin is the director. Columbia started three. "Undercover Man," produced by Robert Rossen and directed by Joseph E. Lewis, offers Glenn Ford and Nina Foch. "Loaded Pistols" is a Gene Autry number, with Barbara Britton opposite, Armand Schaefer producing, and John English directing. "Gentleman from Nowhere" is produced by Rudolph Flotow and directed by William Castle, pre-, senting Warner Baxter and Fay Baker. Screen Guild Productions started "Sting of the Lash," with Lash LaRue, Al St. John and Peggy. Ron Ormond is producing, Ray Taylor directing. STARTED COLUMBIA Undercover Man Loaded Pistols Gentleman from Nowhere SCREEN GUILD Sting of the Lash (Western Adventure) UNITED ARTISTS My Dear Secretary (Cardinal) UNIVERSAL-INTERN'L You Gotta Stay Happy (Rampart) WARNER BROTHERS June Bride COMPLETED COLUMBIA Ladies of the Chorus Black Eagle PARAMOUNT The Great Gatsby REPUBLIC Marshal of Amarillo SCREEN GUILD Dead Man's Gold (Western Adventure) UNITED ARTISTS All's Well that Ends Well (Bogeaus) UNIVERSAL-INTERN'L Kiss the Blood Off My Hands SHOOTING EAGLE LION 29 Clues ENTERPRISE No Minor Vices MGM Sun in the MorningCommand Decision Words and Music MONOGRAM The Babe Ruth Story (Allied Artists) PARAMOUNT Dark Circle Special Agent (Pine-Thomas) The Accused (Wallis) The Tatlock Millions Sorrowful Jones REPUBLIC Drums Along the Amazon Nighttime in Nevada RKO RADIO Bodyguard Weep No More 20TH CENTURY-FOX Burlesque Road House That Wonderful Urge UNIVERSAL-INTERN'L Rogue's Regiment Countess of Monte Cristo (Westwood) Larceny V/ARNER BROTHERS My Dream Is Yours (Curtiz) Silver Lining A Kiss in the Dark Smart Money MOTION PICTURE HERALD, MAY 15, 1948 27