Motography (Jul 1918)

July 13, 1918. MOTOGRAPHY 51 War Film Quiz Demanded in Congress GEORGE CREEL AND HEARST FACE AIRING AN investigation of the manner in which the Committee of Public Information, headed by George Creel, is conducting the nation's film business was demanded in the House of Representatives at Washington last week by Representative Allen T. Tr'eadway of Massachusetts. The demand is an outgrowth of the action of Mr. Creel in refusing to permit the showing of the Universal patriotic special, "The Yanks Are Coming," at the Broadway Theatre, New York, and of the charge of P. A. Powers of the Universal company before the Ways and Means Committee of the House on June 18 that government war pictures are monopolized by one company. "Congress and the people," said Mr. Treadway, "should know and understand this whole question thoroughly. The secretary of war is asked in the resolution for full information on the subject. Testimony before the Ways and Means Committee showed a monopoly in the hands of one company, and the recent prohibition of an exhibition in New York bears out this testimony. The resolution is introduced for the purpose of obtaining the facts about the entire matter." Resolution for Inquiry What the Massachusetts congressman seeks to learn is set forth in the resolution as follows: Resolved, That the Secretary of War be requested to report to the House the following information: How many persons in the Signal Corps have been ordered to take still or moving pictures of the American Expeditionary Forces? What disposition is made of such negatives and films when returned to this country? In what manner, under what terms and regulations, are the pictures distributed for public information? With whom and by whom are contracts made for such exhibition purposes, and what are the conditions of the same? What persons other than members of the Signal Corps have been authorized to take still or moving pictures of the American Expeditionary Forces, and in what manner is control exercised over their exhibition? Are members of the Signal Corps ordered to take pictures of military preparations in this country, including activities in the cantonments, ordnance and airplane production and the production of articles used in the war, and what disposition is made of the same? Are pictures so taken exhibited in public places, and, if so, by whose authority and under what terms? . . Have civilian photographers been authorized to take pictures of the American Expeditionary Forces, or of war preparations in this country? If so, what disposition is made of the negatives, under what terms are they exhibited, etc.? What revenue is derived from such contracts and what disposition is made of the same? Baker Backs Creel Meanwhile the Universal company has been seeking permission from Secretary of War Baker to exhibit "The Yanks Are Coming," but in vain. Secretary Baker announces he will stand by the decision of Mr. Creel. If an investiga tion is granted by Congress, however, the facts revealed may have the effect of obtaining the desired permission. Sensational evidence is expected in the event of an inquiry, a center of which would be William Randolph Hearst. It was Hearst's influence, according to R. H. Cochrane of Universal, which caused Creel to bar the Universal film, the inference being that Creel showed favoritism to Pathe, which has the contract for the distribution of the Official War Review and which, under the name "HcarstPathe," distributes news photographs of the International Film Service, a Hearst organization that makes and sells both news and commercial photographs. In this connection, Paul Brunet, vicepresident and general manager of Pathe Exchange, Inc., has issued a statement resenting the intimation that Pathe and Hearst are in partnership. This statement will be found on another page (Page 78). Hart Explains Position Charles S. Hart, director of the Division of Films, has also issued a statement, explaining the position of the division as follows: Upon taking up the work of the Division of Films, I found that the British and Italian Official War Films were in charge of Captain G. McL. Baynes, that the French films were being distributed independently through the French Pictorial Division, while the United States official films were put out through the Red Cross, all of these being supplied to and distributed by the several (Continued on page 77.) What's What and Where to Find It Page WAR FILM QUIZ DEMANDED IN CONGRESS 51 FOX DECLARES WAR ON FIRST NATIONAL 58 ROOSEVELT'S BOOKS TO BE FILMED 59 NEW FUEL ORDER CURBS THEATRE SIGNS 60 MISS YOUNG TO HAVE HER OWN STUDIO 60 OHIO TO SHUN BOSTON CONVENTION 61 CHICAGO CENSORSHIP PLAN WINS FRIENDS 62 STARS FIGHT HEAVY INCOME TAXES 63 ALL N. A. M. P. I. DIRECTORS NOMINATED NOW 64 THEATRE HAS ITS AUDIENCES SING 65 "SALOME" COMPLETED AFTER SIX MONTHS' WORK 66 BIG THEATRE SHAKE-UP IN MONTREAL 67 SIX FEATURES ON METRO'S JULY PROGRAM 69 STRONG CAST FOR FIRST FARRAR-GOLDWYN 70 THREE STARS IN "ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS" 71 "TO HELL WITH THE KAISER" OPENS IN NEW YORK 72 MANY AFFILIATED UNITS ELECT OFFICERS 73 BIG DEMILLE SPECIAL READY FOR RELEASE 74 "HANDS UP" TO GET BIG PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN 75 GAIL KANE TO PRODUCE FOR MUTUAL BILL 76 LASKY BACK IN NEW YORK; TALKS OF FUTURE 77 BRUNET TELLS STATUS OF PATHE AND HEARST 78 DEPARTMENTS EDITORIAL 49 WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME 52 CURRENT AND COMING RELEASES— VIEWED FOR THE BOX OFFICE k 55 CLEVER METHODS OF ADVERTISING 79 THRIFT STAMPS FOR ADMISSION, NEW IDEA 79 "AFTER SUPPER MATINEES" ARE PROPOSED 80 ACTIVITIES IN THE INDEPENDENT FIELD 81 U. S. MODIFIES NEW EXPORT CENSORSHIP 81 NOTES OF THE INDUSTRY IN GENERAL 82 SYNOPSES FOR THE PROGRAM 85