Motion Picture Herald (Apr-Jun 1952)

Members o/ Mouse Muck Mugltes View ]]’ AS HIN GTON : A statement in support of the stand taken by Howard Huglies, RKO studio head, in liis dispute with Paul Jarrico, screen writer, was issued last week by three Republican members of the House UnAmerican Activities Committee. 'I'he three were Representatives Harold H. \'elde of Illinois, Bernard \\h Kearney of Xew York and Charles E. Potter of Michigan. The fourth Repul)lican meml)er of the group, Rep. Donald L. Jackson of California, earlier had endorsed Mr. Hughes’ action in firing Mr. Jarrico. In their statement the three Republicans said Air. Hughes’ move was "an important step toward the eradication of Communist iiiHuence in the entertainment world.’’ They stated that "the continued silence of an individual who has six times been identified as a one-time Communist is not reassuring to the American people who are footing not only the cost of a war in Korea but the production of moving pictures as well.” July 16 has been set as the trial date for RKO’s suit for declaratory relief from Mr. Jarrico’s demand for screen credit on "The Las Vegas Story.” The writer’s countersuit against RKO, asking for $350,000 in damages, will he tried simultaneously before State Superior Court Judge Stanley Barnes. Mr. Jackson, speaking on Communism and the film industry at a Kiwanis Club meeting, said, "As long as the guilds and unions keep on their membership lists men and women identified with Communism, Hollywood will he regarded in an unfavorable way. They must clean house.” The American Legion in Baltimore this week announced plans to picket Baltimore theatres in which films of alle.ged members or supporters of the Communist I’arty are appearing. The picketing will lie carried on by the Committee Against Lhi-American Activities of the Legion's Department of Alaryland. Theatre Faces Lottery Charge The Linden theatre, Ottawa, has been charged with oiierating a lottery in the form of "Foto Nite” contests, through which prizes are given to patrons. If the case is successfully prosecuted, scores of similar cases are expected to be brought a.gainst exhibitors throughout Canada. HENRY R. ARIAS PURCHASING AG£NT Foreign and Domestic Film Distribution 729 7th Ave., N. Y. 19. N. Y.. Circle 5-4574 Serving the Industry Since 1913. CABLE: Negotiations in Any Language. HENARIAS, 'n. Y. Propose Individual Ads Of Institutional Type The abandoned plans for a joint distribution institutional newspaper advertising campaign may be replaced by an arrangement whereby the companies would proceed with such advertisements independently and on a voluntary basis, it u'as indicated last week. The substitute plan was scheduled to be proposed and acted upon at a meeting in XTw York .April 12 of the Motion Picture Association of America’s advertisingpulilicity committee, headed by Charles Simonelli of Universal. Whatever decision is reached by the committee will he reported to the MPAA membership meeting in New York next month. If the proposal is adopted, it was said to be doubtful that all companies would follow the plan since the reason the joint effort was eliminated was because the release schedules of certain distributors would not fit in with an institutional advertising effort this spring and summer. Mughes Sets MKO Picture HOLLYWOOD : RKO Pictures announced this week the purchase of "A Likely Story” as a starring vehicle for Jean .Simmons, with production to start in about three weeks. The purchase was made by Howard Hughes, managing director-production, from Paramount when the latter decided not film the comedy because its intended star, W illiam Holden, had other commitments. Lloyd Bacon will direct the new film and Robert .Sparks will produce. It will be Aliss Simmons’ second Hollywood picture. She original! v was brought to this country to star in Gabriel Pascal’s production of "Androcles and the Lion” for RKO. "John" Greeted by Big Hollywood Audience A capacity audience made up of Hollywood stars, top civic and industrial leaders, prominent clergy and socialites attended the west coast premiere this week of Paramount’s "Aly Son John” at the Fine Arts theatre in Beverly Hills. Paramount officials described the film colony’s tremendous response as a tribute to Helen Hayes, who returns to the screen for the first time in 17 years in the picture, produced and directed bv Leo AIcCarey. Co-starred in the film arc Van Heflin, Robert W’alker and Dean Jagger. Legion Approves Five New Films in Week The National Legion of Decency this week reviewed ami approved five films, puttingtwo in Class A, Section I, morally unobjectionable for general patronage, and three in Class A, Section 1 1, morally unobjectionable for adults. In Section I are "The Soldier Saint” and "Skirts Ahoy.” In Section 1 1 are "The Great Adventure,” "Paula” and "Red Planet Alars.” TV Experts Mold Meet lu Puris by HENRY KAHN PARIS : The world’s first international meeting of television experts took place here last week. It was organized by the United Nations Economic, Social and Cultural Organization. Eight countries, including the United .States, were represented. The American delegates were Richard Hull of Station W'OR-TV’ : Iowa State College; Robert Hudson, director of radio and television at the Lhiiversity of Illinois, and Davidson Taylor, general production director of NBC-TV^. Britain sent Airs. Mary Adams, talks director of the BBC, and Alaurice Gorham. The meeting undertook a complete survey of television. However, only Britain and the Lh.S. were in a position to offer really constructive ideas as in the other countries television is just beginning. The threat to the cinema in France was cited from the report of M. Porche, French delegate, wdio said plans were being drawn to equip all wmrking class apartment houses with a TV room. Occupants of these apartments would he able to visit the room at night and w^atch the TV picture which would be thrown on a screen. M. Porche suggested the idea of a "pool” for television films. This, he said, would form a vehicle of exchange and would cut costs, too. Mr. Hudson said U.S. theatres had lost between 20 and 40 per cent of their business through television and that bars and idght clubs had suffered also. In reply to criticism of the U.S. system of Commercial broadcasting, Mr. Taylor j)ointed out that TV’ was not an affair of the school, church or institution but of the home. Movietime Unit Set For Upstate New York BUFFALO ■. V’era-Ellen, Sally Forrest, .Sterling Hayden, Richard Carlson, William Demarest and Manny Seff will make up the .Movietime LVS.A. unit which is to visit this city and W’estern New York. The unit arr’ve-. in Buffalo .April 27. The stars will vi'-'t Niagara Falls, Batavia and nearby towns .April 28. HIGHLY EXPERIENCED CAMERAMAN available in AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, ETC. Thoroughly competent cameraman for motion pictures and TV, o-wns complete equipment black & -white and color — desires work for American motion picture or TV organization in Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands. 20 years’ experience U.F.A. and other leading European and American companies. Please write: I. Konstantino, 3-A Barclay Street, Waverley, Sydney, Australia. 34 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, APRIL 26, 1952