We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
12
SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, January 4, 1947
Hollywood's 1946 Production Rate Ahead of Release Requirements, Despite Labor Rows
Industry Begins New Year With 223 Features in Work Or Ready tor Distribution
During a year of unprecedented disruption to work schedules due to strikes, Hollywood studios put into production many more pictures than were required to maintain release schedules. The result is that the industry started the new year of 1947 with a backlog of feature product that numerically as well as in terms of dollars invested far exceeds any previous stockpile built up in the history of motion pictures.
According to Showmen's Trade Review production data, the Hollywood studios started before the cameras last year 58 per cent more feature product than was required for the release schedules. In other words only 42 per cent of the pictures put into work during 1946 <vere released last year. Moreover, the total number of pictures released by all companies last year was less than the number started in production. This fact, viewed in the light of the large inventories of completed product accumulated during the war years of limited release schedules, further emphasizes the pace of studio activity during times when jurisdictional rows among labor unions were causing as many as 50 individual work stoppages in one studio in one day.
The product situation as a result of these years of increased production, at a time when the rate of distribution was steadily downward, places the reserve of feature pictures either completed or actually in work at the studios at the all-time high of 223 (the total does not include the series western pictures, of which there are a large number on the shelves).
The studios of the 13 distributor companies now represented in the national lists, started a total of 343 features during 1946, according to Showmen's Trade Review data. Only 140 of these were included in the total of 324 features released by these companies during 1946. (The total of 324 releases does not include series western, reissues or imports).
When the exhibition branch of the industry first became acutely "backlog conscious," which was in the middle of 1943, there was a total of less than 160 features in the so-called reserve pool — comprised of pictures either completed or in actual production. The climb to the present 223 thus describes a rather precipitious upward swing.
The tabulation printed in connection with this article, shows the pictures (features only and not including series westerns) by title which were put before the cameras in Hollywood during 1946, with the titles of those of the pictures which were released shown in the adjoining column. The tabulation illustrates graphically the wide difference between the pictures started and those released — the grand totals being : Started 343, Released, 223.
Not shown in the tabulation is the number of features released by the various companies. This total was 324 (all data is compiled from Showmen's Trade Review Booking Guide service). Thus the Hollywood plants started in production last year, with all the strike deterrents and the fact that there were large backlogs on hand, 19 more features than were released during the entire calendar year. (The 324
total of releases does not include reissues or imported films distributed during the year by the various companies.)
The long delay between the start of a production and its ultmate release under present conditions is rather graphically illustrated in the column showing the Paramount studio record of new pictures. That company started 24 pictures and released only one of them during the year. Since Paramount released 20 features during 1946, all but one of them were started prior to 1946. In the backlogs of several of the companies there are features which were started in 1945.
The vast majority of the features in this stockpile of 223 productions (the figure refers
to the number of pictures either completed or in work as of ■ December 31 and for release after January 1, 1947) are of the costlier, more elaborate productions. (The "Big Five" have a total of 130 of these 223).
As a comparative slant on conditions at the time when the subject of backlogs first came into great prominence, the reserve of features on hand by the "Big Five" was about 120.
In the tabulation, all titles shown are of pictures which were started in actual work at the studios indicated after January 1, 1946. In all cases where the picture was released during 1946, the title is repeated in the column at the right.
Thus, the record :
Following tabulation shows, by companies, titles of pictures started in production during 1946, with titles repeated in right hand column of those pictures which were included among the company's 1946 releases.
COLUMBIA
Productions Started
The Phantom Thief Devil's Mask Man Who Dared Gallant Journey Dangerous Business Return of Rusty Down to Earth The Unknown Blondie Knows Best The Thrill of Brazil Singr While You Dance Personality Kid Crime Doctor's Man Hunt Dead Reckoning: Shadowed Johnny O'clock Return of Monte Cristo Sing-in' in the Corn The Guilt of Janet Ames Secret of the Whistler Mr. District Attorney Betty Co-ed Blondie's Big: Moment Boston Blackie and the Law
Alias Mr. Twilight Last of the Redmen Lone Wolf in Mexico Framed
The Gunfig-hters Cigaret Girl Blind Spot
The Thirteenth Hour The Lady from Shanghai Millie's Daughter King of the Wild Horses' Blondie's Holiday The Swordsman Assigned to Treasury Three Were Thoroughbreds
For the Love of Rusty Bulldog Drummond at Bay
It's Great to be Young The Corpse Came C.O.D. STARTED 43
EAGLE-LION
Productions Started
It's a Joke, Son Amy Comes Across
STARTED 2
Released The Phantom Thief Devil's Mask Man Who Dared Gallant Journey Dangerous Business Return of Rusty
The Unknown
Blondie Knows Best
The Thrill of Brazil
Sing While You Dance
Personality Kid
Crime Doctor's Man Hunt
Shadowed
Return of Monte Cristo Singin' in the Corn The Guilt of Janet Ames Secret of the Whistler
Betty Co-ed
Boston Blackie and the Law
Alias Mr. Twilight Lone Wolf in Mexico
METRO-GOLD YYN-MAYER
Productions Started Released
Undercurrent Undercurrent The Show-Off The Show-Off
Tenth Avenue Angel My Brother Talks to
Horses A Woman of My Own Fiesta
The Mighty McGurk Love Laughs At Andy Hardy
The Beginning or the End High Barbaree Lady in the Lake Sea of Grass
The Secret Heart The Secret Heart
The Unfinished Dance Summer Holiday It Happened in Brooklyn To Kiss and to Keep This Time for Keeps The Arnelo Affair Merton of the Movies Romance of Rosy Ridge Green Dolphin Street Cynthia's Secret Undercover Maisie Song of Love The Birds and the Bees The Rich. Full Life
STARTED 27
It's Great to be Young RELEASED 22
Released
RELEASED
SELZNICK RELEASING ORGANIZATION
Productions Started Released
The Paradine Case •
STARTED 1 RELEASED
PARAMOUNT
Productions Started
The Perfect Marriage
o.s.s.
Danger Street
Perils of Pauline
Suddenly It's Spring
Welcome Stranger
Seven Were Saved
Where There's Life
Fear in the Night
I Dover the Big Town
The Emperor Waltz
Uneonquered
Jungle Flight
My Favorite Brunette
Wild Harvest
Golden Earrings
Desert Fury
Dear Ruth
Adventure Island
Variety Girl
Blaze of Noon
Saigon
I Walk Alone Road to Rio
STARTED 31
PRC
Productions Started
Devil Bat's Daughter Avalanche
Larceny in Her Heart Queen of Burlesnue Secrets of a Sorority Girl
RELEASED
Released
o.s.s.
RELEASED
Released Devil Bat's Daughter Avalanche
Larceny in Her Heart Queen of Burlesque Secrets of a Sorority Girl