Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1944)

4 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW December 23, 1944 Ask Interim Decree Pending Trust Case The Government will be ready to go to trial with the original anti-trust proceedings against producer-distributor companies in June, but there is little likelihood that the action to force theatre divorcement will reach the courts by that time, it became evident last Wednesday as Federal Judge Henry W. Goddard set a hearing date of March 5 for the interim decree to be put into effect pending the anti-trust trial. Judge Goddard subsequently disposed of the petition of St. Louis Amusement Co. for leave to intervene in the New York consent decree case by denying the petition on grounds of insufficient evidence. Russell Hardy, attorney for St. Louis Amusement, said he may appeal the decision to the U. S. Supreme Court. Robert L. Wright, assistant to the U. S. Attorney General, sought to have a trial date set for the anti-trust action, but Judge Goddard ruled that such action would wait, pending the outcome of conferences on the interim decree. Wright sought a hearing at which to demonstrate his contention that the arbitration processes of the decree to which producerdistributors are now adhering under agreement are inadequate. He revealed that the D of J seeks a radical broadening of the decree's Section Vni relating to clearance. It was assumed in trade circles that the clearance proposals which are likely to be advocated in the Government's briefs to be submitted to the distributors on Feb. 1, based on Wright's statements at the hearing Wednesday, will meet with stif? opposition from the film company attorneys, who will submit their answers and views on Feb. 15 for the hearing of the combined proposals by Judge Goddard on March 5. Seven in MGM's 10th Block; Sell 'St. Louis,' 'Tokyo' Separately MGM's tenth block will comprise seven pictures, all but two of which have been tradeshown generally, it was announced this week by William F. Rodgers. The pictures are "The Thin Man Goes Home," "Main Street After Dark," "Music for Millions," "Blonde Fever," "This Man's Navy," "Between Two Women" and "Nothing But Trouble." "Meet Me ^in St. Louis" and "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" will be made available in January, although they will be sold under separate contracts. "Music for Millions" will be tradeshown in key centers, except New York and Los Angeles, where it has already been seen, on , Jan. 3 and 4. "This Man's Navy" will be shown in all exchanges on the same dates. Release dates for the tenth block have not been set, but it is expected that they will be released in the order named starting in early January. INDEX TO DEPARTMENTS Advance Dope 26 Box-Office Slants 18 Current Product Summary 31 Feature Booking Guide 27 Feature Guide Title Index 30 Hollywood 25 Newsreel Syn'pses 24 Program Exchange ; 10 Regional Newsreel 12 Selling the Picture 9 Shorts Booking Guide 32 Short Subject Reviews 24 'Farewell^ to ^Murde/ Surrcunded with an aura of sweet romance and parting lovers, "Farewell, My Lovely" just didn't seem the proper title to impart the murder mystery quality of RKO s screen version of Raymond Chandler's story. Too much romance — no mystery. So several heads got together and came up with a title c:mbinlng mystery and romance. From now on it's "Murder, My Sweet." The picture was reviewed under its former title (STR, Dec. 9, p. 12). SYWA Voted Best by Board's Junior Groups David O. Selznick's '-'Since You Went Away" has been voted the best picture of 1944 by the young reviewers of the National Board of Review, and the nationwide 4-Star Clubs, both junior field groups of the Board. Ranging in age from 8 to 18, the junior members make their selections in advance of any published lists made by older groups so that there can be no question of influence by older people's opinions. With the United Artists release at the top, the junior board's remaining choices, in order of preference, were "Going My Way" (Para.), "Dragon Seed" (MGM), "Wilson" (20th-Fox), "The Story of Dr. Wassell" (Para.), "The Song of Bernadette" (20th-Fox), "The White Cliffs of Dover" (MGM), "The Seventh Cross" (MGM), "Mr. Skeffington" (WB) and "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" (MGM). Film Men Take Lead Role in NCCJ Campaign for Funds Motion picture men were in the majority of over 600 representatives of the amusement industry who gathered in New York last week for the luncheon which started a drive for $1,000,000 in funds for the National Conference of Christians and Jews. The luncheon meeting, presided over by J. Robert Rubin, chairman of the Amusement E)ivision, was featured by addresses emphasizing the vital need of the organization's work for elimination of religious and racial prejudices and methods under which that ideal is being advanced through education. Speakers introduced by Chairman Rubin included Basil O'Connor, head of the American Red Cross ; NCCJ President Dr. Everett R. Clinchy ; Maj. Gen. Frederick E. Uhl, commanding general of the Fourth Service Command; Dr. Howard Wilson, Harvard University; Dr. Daniel A. Poling, religious leader. MPPDA 1945 Budget Approved; Wallis Productions Made Member The board of directors of MPPDA in its regular quarterly meeting this week approved the budget for 1945, and at the same time elected Hal W allis Productions to class A membership, while Joseph Hazen, representing the company, was elected to class C membership. Members of the board in attendance included : Barney Balaban, George Borthwick, Jack Cohn, E. W. Hammons, N. Peter Rathvon and Spyros Skouras. Nicholas Schenck was represented by J. Robert Rubin; J. J. O'Connor for Nate Blumberg ; and also in attendance were Austin C. Keough and Carl E. Milliken. Richey in Red Cross Fund Post N. Peter -Rathvon, national chairman of the industry's Red Cross War Fund Week, has appointed Henderson M. Richey, assistant to W. F. Rodgers, M-G-Ai general sales manager, to serve as chairman of the meeting arrangements committee. Theatres Boost Bond Sale Records In 6th That the motion picture industry will show an overall result in excess of quotas originally set for the Sixth War Loan, became evident early this week as reports from the field made it apparent to drive Headquarters in New York that combined bond premieres, free movie days and projection room premieres were both more numerous and in most instances more productive of sales than in any previous drive. That the national E bond quota for the Sixth War Loan will run at least 10 per cent ahead of its goal, and that the Treasury Department had forecast a total of $21 billion in war bond subscriptions for an "over the top" result on the campaign which is in its final days, was the highlight of an address on Monday in New York by National Chairman Harry Brandt when he played host to members of the national and executive committees at a luncheon. Among other speakers at the gathering were Ted Gamble, National Director of the War Finance Committee of the Treasury Department; Ned Depinet, S. H. Fabian, John Hertz, Jr., William Crockett, John Rugar, Henry Reeve, Jay Emanuel, R. J. O'Donnell, Leon Bamberger, and the three war heroes, Lt. Col. Roswell Rosengren, Capt. Ray Wild, and Lieut. Lewis Largey. Rank to Enlarge Canadian Chain, Build 'One or Two' Houses in U. S. Plans to buy and build as many theatres as necessary "to give British pictures a good showing (in Canada) — in time, as good as that given to American product, and to build "one or two" theatres in the United States were revealed in London last week by J. Arthur Rank, British film executive. According to sources in Montreal, Rank said that "we have an agreement with the Paul Nathanson Canadian circuit, and we have decided to build it up considerably." The circuit is comprised of 102 theatres at the present time. Rank will merge all his British studios into one company to be known as Production Facilities, Ltd., it was reported. Jules J. Rubens (The Man on the Cover) Vice-president and general manager of PublixGreat States Theatres, Inc., affiliated with Paramount and Balaban and Katz Corporation, who directs the operation of over fifty theatres in Illinois. Mr. Rubens is one of America's outstanding showmen, A pioneer in the industry— he started his career in the theatre at the age of 13 as an office boy — his experience covers every phase of catering to the public's amusement tastes, from penny arcades up to the sumptuous motion picture theatres of today. SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW Title and Trade Mark Registered U. S. Patent Offici Published every Friday by Showmen'i Trade Review Inc., 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y. Telephont BRyant 9-5606. Charles E. "Chick" Lewis, Editor and Publisher ; Tom Kennedy, Associate Editor ; Jamei A. Cron, General Manager; David Harris, Businest and Circulation Manager; Harold Randall, Equip ment Advertising Manager; West Coast Office, 6777 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood 28, California ; Telf phone Hollywood 2055. Ann Lewis, manager. Ed Raiden, West Coast Editor. London Representative Milton Deane, 185 Fleet St., London E.C. 4; Aui tralian Representative, Gordon V. Curie, 1 Elliott St., HomebuSh, Sydney, Australia. Subscription ratei pet year $2.00 in the United States and Canada ; ForeiBrn $5.00. Single copies, ten cents. Address all Communications to : SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 1501 Broadway, New York 18, N. Y.