Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Mar 1954)

RESUBMIT RKO “LINE” TO PCA Censor and Newspaper Defend Cade Picture Will Be Withdrawn from St. Louis House as Arthur Protests Ban Revisions in Howard Hughes’ “French Line” were made and the controversial RKO release was resubmitted this week to the Production Code Administration. Earlier in the week it was announced that the picture, playing in Fanchon & Marco theatres in St. Louis since December 30 without a Production Code seal, was to be withdrawn from the Missouri theatre there next Monday on orders from J. R. Grainger, president of RKO Radio. To Be Held Accountable The announcement followed notification by the PCA to the distribution company last week that it will be held accountable under Association regulations which call for a $25,000 fine for violations by member companies of the Association. The distributor is entitled to appeal from the fine to the Motion Picture Association board. The MPAA board would be required to determine what action should be taken against RKO Radio in the event it refused to pay the $25,000 fine, should the fine be appealed and upheld. Possible penalties include suspension or cancellation of a company’s membership in the association. Repercussions were heard in St. Louis. Asserting that it does not question “the purposes of the Production Code Administration,” Fanchon & Marco, in whose Fox theatre first, and currently in the Missouri, “French Line” has been shown, charged the Code administration with “discrimination among producers in the same circumstances.” Wrote to Archbishop Letters containing the charge, made public this week, were written by Edward B. Arthur to Archbishop Joseph E. Ritter of St. Louis and to heads of the St. Louis Councils of Catholic Men and Catholic Women. All three publicly opposed exhibition of the picture and directed adherents not to see it. “We know that it (the PCA) has issued seals to many pictures which, in our opinion, are not different in subject matter and treatment from ‘The French Line’,” Mr. Arthur asserted in the letter. “Having arrived at such a conclusion, it must follow that we cannot deny to a private businessman (RKO) the ordinary right of contract.” "Golden Coach" to Open Jean Renoir’s “The Golden Coach,” made in Italy, in color by Technicolor, and starring Anna Magnani, has been booked by Italian Films Export into the Normandie Theatre, New York, on a two-shows-a-day reserved seat policy, opening January 21. « Allied Artists Arranges One-Year Bank Loan HOLLYWOOD: Allied Artists has signed a new one-year lean agreement with the Security First National Bank of Los Angeles, and participated in by Bankers Trust Company, New York, which provides for a revolving loan of $1,250,000, and also permits guaranties up to $500,000 covering bank loans to producers releasing through Allied Artists. The loan replaces the previous arrangement with the same banks, which was for $1,000,000. Allied Artists in February will put into national release three films, including Walter Wanger’s “Riot in Cell Block 11,” Morey R. Goldstein, vice-president and general sales manager, announced this week. The Wanger picture goes out February 28. The other films and their release dates are “Highway Dragnet,” starring Richard Conte, Joan Bennett and Wanda Hendrix, February 7, and “Bitter Creek,” starring Wild Bill Elliott, February 21. Warners' "Boy" to Have 6 1 5 Dates in 1 2 States Six hundred and fifteen theatres in 12 states of the southwest and midwest will play Warners’ “The Boy from Oklahoma,” following its world premiere January 26 at the Yale Theatre, Claremore, Okla. The saturation dates will be given tremendous publicity in all media. The opening itself will receive similar attention. It will help the opening of the March of Dimes drive in the area. Will Rogers, Jr. and very many notables from politics, stage, screen, radio and television will attend. Majors Settle Parkway Theatre Anti-Tust Suit Settlement before trial was achieved last week in the anti-trust suit by the Parkway Theatre, Spring Valley, N. Y., against the majors, excepting Columbia and United Artists, and the Spring Valley Theatre Corporation. The theatre asked $450,000 and alleged it was forced, after opening June, 1946, to close two months later because it couldn’t obtain pictures on any run. Set "Ana-Ta-Han" Release Josef von Sternberg’s newest release, “Ana-Ta-Han” which he filmed in Japan with Daiwa Company will have its American premiere in New York early next month. A year and a half in production and said to be the costliest picture made in Japan, the film derives its title from an island in the South Pacific. An English narration is spoken by Mr. von Sternberg. Mrs. Edna Carroll, chairman of the Pennsylvania Board of Censors, struck out at Samuel Goldwyn for his proposed revision of the Production Code in an article in the “Philadelphia Evening Bulletin.” Also in an editorial the “Columbus Dispatch,” Columbus, Ohio, advised producers to stick “with the present Production Code with its minimal restraints.” Making the point that the Code now is flexible enough to allow the handling of almost any topic, Mrs. Carroll said “The motion picture has matured to a point where almost any topic can be presented with the proper direction and handling. However, the same things could do the people of the commonwealth and the motion picture industry irreparable harm as exhibited on the community level without such proper control. Official censorship of motion pictures is a regulatory legal function which is protective of the people.” “ Might Be Stiffened ” The editorial in the “Columbus Dispatch” said the code “might be stiffened a bit.” “The Code has served the industry well in protecting the public against grossly salacious pictures,” said the editorial. In asking for a “stiffening” the newspaper added that “we’ve seen some pictures in recent years that hewed about as closely to the line of decency as they could get without stepping over.” From Hollywood last weekend F. Hugh Herbert, president of Screen Writers Guild, released a letter to Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association. Said the letter in part: “There are rumors current that revisions in the Code are contemplated. If this is true, the Guild, whose members, write the material which will have to conform to this revised code, offers its services to you in drafting such a revised code.” Must Have Board Approval In reply Mr. Johnston said: “As you are doubtless aware, the board of directors of the MPAA has the responsibility for the Code and any changes in the Code would therefore have to be passed upon by the board.” He said that if the Guild had any proposals to amend the Code, he “would like to suggest that you send them to me in writing.” Last week Wilbur Snaper, president, of Allied States, declared that because exhibition is said to be in the most vulnerable position in regard to the public reaction to pictures that violate the Code he believes that it would be advisable to have exhibitor opinion reflected in the Code itself. He said he believed the Code was necessary but that it should be reexamined from time to time and should be realistic at all times. 20 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JANUARY 16, 1954