Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1948)

CBS Acquires 52 British Films For Television Showmanship Is Industry Need, Wanger Insists The acquisition of 52 British feature films, starring such well-known personalities as James Mason, Grade Felds, Michael Redgrave, Margaret Lockwood and Lilli Palmer, was announced last week by the Columbia Broadcasting System. According to J. L. Van Volkenburg, CBS vice-president and director of television operations, the rights cover distribution as well as broadcasting and the films will be made available to television stations from coast to coast on a syndicated basis. In Pattern of WPIX Deal In this, the deal follows the pattern set some months ago when WPIX, the television station of the New York Daily News, acquired more than 40 films originally produced by Sir Alexander Korda in England. Earlier still, in June, WPIX had acquired 38 old United Artists features. CBS executives were jubilant over the acquisition of the films, stressing the sore need for motion picture product by the television stations, especially in view of the steady expansion of the networks. There are a number of producers of television films in the field, but many of them are having a difficult time making ends meet. Their output, tailored precisely to television's needs, is frankly preferred by the broadcasters since it is superior in lighting and focus when screened over the air, but the stations are not able to pay enough to enable the producers to meet costs. CBS reportedly paid more than $100,000 for the rights to the block of British pictures. While this is considered to be a very high figure for television, CBS figures on recouping its outlay by circulating the badlyneeded product to all television stations. Repeats are always possible and some of the film presentations may be sponsored. It is pointed out particularly that the stars in the pictures are not unknown to American audiences and hold considerable attraction. Mason Film Included Included in the deal, negotiated by CBS with Edward Sherman of MPM, a California Corporation, is "High Command," a James Mason picture. Other titles include "It Happened One Sunday," "Trader Spy," "The Night Has Eyes," "Thursday's Child," "Tiger Bay," "It Happened in Paris," "Room for Two," "The Voice Within" and "Excuse My Glove." IA Member to Congress Roy W. Wier, Democrat-Farm Laborite elected to Congress November 2 from Minnesota's third district, has been a member of the IATSE Local No. 13, Minneapolis, since 1914. Mr. Wier won easily from the incumbent of his district 32 U.A. NOT SELLING TO VIDEO AS COMPETITION United Artists has "no intention of distributing films to television stations which will provide competition for theatres except insofar as television itself provides competition" and the company has at no time considered the distribution of its current releases to television, according to Paul N. Lazarus, Jr., assistant to Gradwell L. Sears, U.A. president. Mr. Lazarus was quoted in the bulletin of Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio. Earlier, P. J. Wood, ITO secretary, had expressed fear that U.A. might sell the same films to television that it sold to theatres. "Anyone fool enough to put his head to the ground and ignore television, in my opinion, is crazy," Mr. Lazarus wrote. "Television is here . , . and there is no reason why U.A. should ignore it." "Joan of Arc" Premiere Held at Victoria Theatre The benefit world premiere of Sierra Pictures' "Joan of Arc," Walter Wanger film starring Ingrid Bergman, and distributed by RKO, was held Wednesday night in New York at the remodeled Victoria theatre on Broadway. The premiere was attended by society leaders, French Government representatives, municipal officials and executives of civic groups in addition to stage and screen stars and film industry executives. Proceeds were donated to the United Hospital Fund. General Precision Net Up to $323,174 General Precision Equipment Corporation and subsidiary companies last week announced consolidated net operating profit for the three months ended September 30, 1948, after provision for Federal taxes, of $323,174, subject to year-end adjustments. This compares with $174,300 in the same period last year. The directors of the company declared a dividend of 25 cents per share on the outstanding capital stock, payable December 10, 1948, to stockholders of record November 19. Grant Columbia Dismissal From Dipson Trust Suit The dismissal of Columbia Pictures from the $5,000,000 trust action by Dipson Theatres against the major distributors and Buffalo Theatres, was granted last week by District Judge Knight. At the same time Judge Knight dismissed that portion of the suit concerning an $80,373 damage claim which, the Dipson circuit contended, was based on losses at its Lackawanna Ridge theatre as a result of an alleged conspiracy of Shea interests and the major distributing companies. Overconfidence and complacency brought disaster on the theatre and very recently on a major political party and the signs are up that the motion picture industry is now in grave danger for the same reasons. This was the warning issued by Walter Wanger, independent producer, November 5 as he called on the major companies to remedy the evils of "orthodox" and "formula" methods quickly, or prepare to "flop." Addressing a luncheon-meeting of the Associated Motion Picture Advertisers at the Hotel Piccadilly in New York, Mr. Wanger appealed for "intelligent showmanship" and more reliance on the ability of those who handle film advertising, exploitation and publicity. "The public is 'hep,' today," he declared, pointing out that the industry must learn from Mr. Dewey's experience and reach the masses of the people. "The public is waiting to be sold and can't understand why it isn't being sold." Mr. Wanger cited the ''showmanship" of Samuel Goldwyn, Walt Disney and David O. Selznick, noting the necessity of using the methods of appeal employed by these producers and relying less on "popcorn and boards of directors." He said there is "no reason why we shouldn't be the most respected rather than the most maligned industry." Showmen alone should influence industry policy and methods, not lawyers, pollsters and absentee business men, said the producer as he criticized George Gallup's Audience Research Institute and public opinion polls. On the speaker's dais with Mr. Wanger was Ned E. Depinet, president of RKO, whom he praised for successful leadership of the company which Mr. Wanger said no longer has "high class directors." Max E. Youngstein, president of AMPA, introduced Mr. Wanger. Others on the dais were Joan Bennett (Mrs. Wanger), David Blum, William Heineman, Evelyn Koleman and Harry McWilliams. Toronto Exhibitors Hit Power Blackout Plan Toronto exhibitors were disturbed over the new power restrictions imposed last week by the Hydro-Electric Commission. In addition to the daytime restrictions already in effect, the commission ordered a 45-minute blackout beginning November 8, at 7 P. M. Neighborhood houses claimed that business would be killed by the night blackouts, scheduled Monday through Friday, and possibly for the whole winter. They said that since they could not afford to follow the lead of the larger houses, which installed private generators to cover such contingencies, they would be unable to give two performances a night with power available only after 7:45. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 13, 1948