Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1948)

See Dividends Down for Year Washington Bureau Dividends from film companies will be 15 to 20 per cent below last years' record payment, according to figures released here by the U. S. Department of Commerce. The Department said that publicly reported cash dividend payments in October were $2,700,000, compared with $4,571,000 in October, 1947. These payments bring the total for the first 10 months of 1948 to $36,990,000, compared with $48,465,000 for the first 10 months of 1947 and $35,544,000 for the same 1946 period. Payments in the last two months of 1947 totaled only $8,176,000. The 1948 payments have run below 1947 in practically every month this year. The Department of Commerce estimates publicly reported dividends at about 60 per cent of the total paid out. If dividend payments in the last two months of 1948 reach the 1947 level — which is not very likely — publicly reported payments for the year will be about $45,000,000, indicating total payments of about $75,000,000. This compares with an estimated $90,000,000 in total payments last vear and about $77,000,000 in 1946. "Sirike It Rich" Opens In Texas Theatres The world premiere of "Strike It Rich," an Allied Artists-Monogram release and the first picture to be produced by Jack Wrather, Texas oil millionaire, took place at Tyler, Texas, November 26. The picture opened simultaneously at two theatres in Tyler. The openings were accompanied by a parade, a press party and kleig lights. Mr. Wrather, Bonita Granville, his wife and star of the film ; Rod Cameron and other players will make personal appearances at the openings of the picture in nine other Texas towns. ''Strike It Rich" has already opened at the Crim theatre, Kilgore ; Airline, Longview ; Paramount, Abilene, and Paramount, Austin. It was to have opened this week at the Majestic, San Antonio; the Metropolitan, Houston, and Majestic, Dallas. On December 4 it will start playing the Worth, Fort Worth. The film was mostly shot on location near Tyler in the East Texas oil fields. MPTA of Ontario Reelects H. C. D. Main President Toronto Bureau The Motion Picture Theatres Association of Ontario has reelected H. C. D. Main, independent owner of the Capitol at Listowel, Ont, to his second term as president. Roy Miller, manager of the Lincoln, St. Catharines, is vice-president, and George H. Peters, vice-president, of Odeon Theatres of Canada, is secretary. Arch H. Jolley was reappointed executive secretary and manager. William Summerville, of B. and F. Theatres, is honorary treasurer. LATE REVIEW Mexican Hayride Universal International — Strictly for Laughs This picture is lots of fun and as rollicking, imaginative and cleverly produced a slapstick comedy as has come out of Hollywood for many a day. It just can't miss. Once again exhibitors can rely on one of the ablest teams in the business, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, with the little fat man carrying the load. He is as good as ever and his antics appears sure to bring down every house. This is strictly first-rate escapist film fare for anyone, from grandma to grandchild. From the very beginning the gags, old and new, come thick and fast and as the inimitable pair go through their paces in one absurd situation after the other, the audience is sure to react with gales of laugher. "Mexican Hayride" originally was a Cole Porter-Herbert and Dorothy Fields musical which, starring Bobby Clark, enjoyed a long run on Broadway. Here it is, sans music, produced by Robert Arthur and adapted to the screen by Oscar Brodney and John Grant. Charles T. Barton directed with a good feeling for pace and that indefinable something that sets apart the Abbott-Costello brand of comedy. The rest of the cast in that nonsensical comedy down Mexico way (and, by the way, was it necessary to play up the fact that an American here was more or less making a fool of Mexicans?) gives fine performances with Sidney Fields as a fast-talking reporter, and Fritz Feld as a professor of elocution, taking top honors. Virginia Grey and John Hubbard provide the heart interest, and Luba Malina offers the only song of the picture. There is more music, however, by the Flores Brothers Trio. Lou Costello, a fugitive from American justice, is selected as the hero of Amigo Americano week in Mexico quite by mistake. Both he and Bud Abbott are wanted in Iowa, but Costello must go through with his Mexican tour. Many complications arise as crook Abbott gets Lou into more and deeper trouble. Finally, Lou finds himself in a Mexico City bull-ring, facing the ferocious animal and being chased from pillar to post. In the end all is well, of course, with romance blooming for the rotund comedian. Seen at the Universal-International home office screening room, where a press audience appeared to have a lot of fun. Reviewer's Rating : Very good: — Fred Hift. Release date, December. 1948. Running time, 77 minutes. PCA No. 13428. General sudience classification. Harry Lambert ..Bud Abbott Joe Bascom . . ...Lou Costello Montana Virginia Grey Luba Malina, John Hubbard, Pedro de Cordoba, Fritz Feld, Tom Powers, Pat Costello, Frank Fenton. Paramount to Distribute 12 Hal Wallis Features Paramount will distribute 12 pictures from Hal Wallis Productions, Inc., under terms of a contract now being completed, it was revealed in New York Monday. The contract was negotiated by Joseph Hazen, president of the Wallis company, and Y. Frank Freeman, Paramount vice-president, who was in New York from Hollywood. An original contract for the distribution of 12 films will terminate with Paramount's release of Wallis Productions' latest, "The Accused." "Tragic Hunt" Retitled "Woman Hunt" will be the new title of "Tragic Hunt," it has been announced by Lux Films, producers of the film, which is now playing in New York. 2 Trust Actions Name Majors Two new anti-trust actions were filed last week, one in Los Angeles by Phil Isley Theatres, the other in Phoenix, Ariz., by the Times theatre, Mesa, Ariz. The Isley action, filed November 23 against the major distributors and the Fox West Coast circuit, seeks treble damages of $498,000. The Times action, filed against the major distributors and the Paramount-Harry Nace circuit of Arizona, seeks treble damages of $144,900. Both actions were filed by Fred A. Weller, Los Angeles attorney. In the Isley action, Phil R. Isley asserts that the major distributors refused to sell his recently completed Picwood theatre, Los Angeles, first run product. As a result, he has not opened his house. An injunction against this alleged discrimination is sought. The Times theatre, owned by Wayne Phelps, charges the distributors with conspiracy to delay films after first run. Father Flanagan Ceremony Held by Variety Clubs Variety Clubs International unveiled and dedicated a statue and plaque to the late Father Flanagan, founder of Boys Town, at Boys Town, Neb., last Sunday. William McCraw, executive director of the Variety Clubs, presided. Robert J. O'Donnell, international chief barker, presented the statue and plaque and they were accepted by Monsignor Nicholas H. Wegner, director of Boys Town. The Most Rev. Gerald T. Bergan, Archbishop of Omaha, offered the blessing. At 6 :30 Sunday evening a dinner was held in the Fontenelle Hotel in Omaha, with Edward Shafton, chairman of arrangements for the Variety Club of Omaha, presiding. John H. Harris, for Variety, and The Most Rev. Gerald Bergan addressed the dinner guests. IATSE Local Seeks to Halt Parent Union Negotiations The Philadelphia Theatre Employees, Local B-100, of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, was to seek an injunction Friday against its parent union, the IATSE, to prevent the international from negotiating a contract with the Warner theatre circuit. The local complains that the parent union and its officers are forcing the local to accept what was called a "slave contract." Piazza Joins Odium Ben Piazza, RKO Radio casting director, last week confirmed his resignation from that position effective December, 1948. He will associate with Floyd Odium in the latter's future industry activities. Fred Schuessler, casting director of Howard Hughes Productions, has been mentioned as Mr. Piazza's successor. 28 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 4, 1948