Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1948)

RANK WILL CLOSE A BRITISH STUDIO Sudden Move Brings New Crisis to Industry as Commons Hears Report by PETER BURNUP in London In a startling and unexpected move, J. Arthur Rank has announced that he will close Gainsborough's Islington studios — comprising two large stages — early next year. Although Mr. Rank claims that the closing is but a streamlining process, suggesting, indeed, that his step makes "additional space available for other producers, including those now receiving financial assistance from the Government," this statement smacks of rhetoric in view of the large number of studios already unoccupied. Affects 300 Employees Some 300 employees will be affected by the Islington closure, but Mr. Rank promises that wherever practicable, they will be absorbed elsewhere. But it appears that the number who will be so aided is inconsiderr able in view, of the large number of picture personnel now unemployedMr. Rank claims that his total output will not be affected. Balancing Mr. Rank's statements, it is interesting to note these several facts : For the week beginning November 21, 13 studios capable of turning out first feature films were either closed entirely or engaged in production of quite another sort. The House of Commons was told the week previous that 15 per cent of the men normally working in the studios were currently unemployed. At this time last year, 20 first features were in production. For the week beginning November 21, only 15 films which by any reckoning could be described as first features were on the floor. Say Much Studio Space Is Available Now The committee enquiring into the desirability of the Government building or acquiring a studio for the use of independent producers submitted the following report : "Many studios, including British National, Riverside, Twickenham, Southall and Teddington, are empty and, in fact, there has never been a time when so much studio space has been available as now. Every studio manager whom we visited informed us that he had plenty of studio space available and that he would welcome applications from free lance producers. Furthermore, we are assured that there is ample studio space for the production of films up to and even beyond the present quota," the report stated. And, again, this comment of Tom O'Brien, general secretary of the National Association of Theatrical and Kine Employees, made in the House of Commons : "The main and fundamental trouble before the British industry — and it has to be faced by the Government, the industry and the people — is a complete lack of confidence in it by the country. You cannot raise by any commercial method one farthing to make new films. If the facilities to finance the productions of Mr. Rank and Sir Philip Warter were to go out, there would be an immediate collapse of the British film industry as a whole." In Fight with Exhibitors Mr. Rank, meanwhile, is still embroiled in a rumpus with his customers and with his own British Film Producers Association. This rumpus has gone on for many months now, with not only individual exhibitors, but their association's executives, bluntly accusing Mr. Rank and his salesmen of seeking to impose unjustified trading terms on his showmen-customers. Rank himself admitted inferentially the justice of the allegation when, as long ago as July 14, he met the full force of the Cinematograph Exhibitors Association's indignant General Council and then essayed to appease the remonstrants by pledging himself, as a start, that his top price for a whole program would not exceed 50 per cent and that he would forthwith convene with CEA's negotiating committee and hammer out a mutually acceptable booking formula. Those negotiations proceeded with such remarkable amicability that, in view of the unexpected Rank olive branch, the exhibitors promised they would do all they could to make the 45 per cent quota a working proposition. Sliding Scale Evolved General principle of the formula evolved was a sliding scale of rental terms rising from 33^5 per cent to 50 per cent with intermediate break figures for the exhibitors' protection. Then the BFPA convened a special meeting and there practically forbade Mr. Rank to continue his exhibitor negotiations unless he were accompanied therein by his brotherproducers. Mr. Rank is BFPA's president and, as such, a servant of the Association. There was the additional ironical circumstance that a number of the particularly vehement BFPA protestants were producers whose pictures are distributed by Rank's General Film Distributors. Mr. Rank was constrained, in consequence, to write to the CEA telling its officers that they must wait awhile and that at their next conference he would be accompanied by BFPA representatives. Sir Henry French, BFPA's general direc tor, bade the exhibitors to a meeting to consider "the question of policy respecting film rentals." To that W. R. Fuller, CEA secretary, replied that he had no mandate for such a gathering. Dennis C. Wallas, CEA president, has asked Mr. Rank to come along for a talk with the CEA as soon as possible. Mr. Rank has replied, regretting that he cannot go along without his BFPA comrades. Urge Exhibitors Should Attend British-U. S. Meet London Bureau The suggestion has been advanced this side that independent British exhibitors should be represented when the AngloAmerican Joint Film Advisory Committee meets in New York March 23-25. Currently, only J. Arthur Rank, Sir Alexander Korda, and Sir Henry French, representing the British Film Producers Association, are scheduled to represent the British. Feeling has mounted steadily that Sir Alexander King, vice-president of the Cinematograph Exhibitors Association, and W. R. Fuller, general secretary of tne CEA, should also attend the meeting, if only for the purpose of counselling. The argument is that the Rank-Korda-French combination would attend the conference practically as salesmen for British films, whereas it is desirable, from the standpoint of U. S. producers, that the Americans' best customers here, the independent exhibitors, be invited to participate in the talks. U. S. industry representatives scheduled to attend the meetings are Eric A. Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association ; Nicholas M. Schenck and Barney Balaban. TOA Conciliation Group Set for Albany Area The formation of a temporary Theatre Owners of America conciliation committee for the Albany, N. Y., exchange district was established Wednesday afternoon following addresses on the plan by Gael Sullivan, TOA executive director. The committee will function for 90 days. The Albany committee is the eighth organized under TOA. Plan Missouri House FoxMidwest Theatres have leased a downtown corner in Joplin, Mo., for a theatre. The building now houses the Orpheum theatre, which is operated by Fox-Midwest, along with the Paramount and Electric in Joplin. Canadian Short Ready The National Film Board of Canada has announced the immediate release to Canadian theatres of "Arctic Jungle," the second of its series on Canada. The film is in color and tells the story of the Canadian Arctic. 22 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 4, 1948