Variety (May 1941)

Wednesdaj, May 14, 1941 PICTURES FILMS EXPECT NO U.S. CURBS FP.-Canadiaii Meeting Today (Wed.) May Determine N. L Nathanson's Future Status: J. J. Fitzgibbon Up? Action concerning the future status of N. L. Nathanson, president of Famous Players-Canadian Corp., may be taken today (Wed.) at the' annual stockholders meeting of the company following .negotiations on a renewal recently which, from ac- counts, have not proceeded with the greatest unction. Among other things it is said that Paramount, in control of most of the common stock of FP-C, has been- dis- satisfied with the film deals that have been made on its pictures under the Nathanson regime. Be- lieved It also looks with disfavor on the private expansion in the ex- hibition &61d that is being under- taken by Paul Nathanson, son of the FP-C president. If Nathanson 'bows out, as reported he will, J. J. Fitz- gibbon will be' offered the top spot in the company. He is now vice-president and has been with FP-C about 11 years. Whether he should accept such a vacancy cre- ated by Nathanson's resignation or not, It is understood ,th»t he stiU would prefer . to be back in the States. • Fitzgibbon is an American citizen dnd stated that he's not happy in Canada especially under the weigh.t of the present taxation in the Do- minion. Also, he owns two houses on this side of the line, one in Brookline, 'Mass., and another on Long Island. Barney Balaban, president of Par, Stanton Griffis, chairman - of the executive committee, and Austin C. Keough, v.p. and legal counsel - of the company, all left yesterday (Tues.) for 'Toronto to attend the annual meeting of FP-C. Before leaving Balaban stated' he heard nothing of reports concerning Nathanson nor did he know whether the question of renewal of his con- tract was on the agenda' of the meet- ing. Both Balaban and Keough are directors of FP-C. Circuit operates 168 theatres across the Dominion. Cowdin Still on Coast, Blnmberg East But HI, U's Meeting Pontine' Mostly routine business occupied the attention of Universal directorate at the session last Friday (9), with no action taken on the pending long- term loan. Fact that J. Cheever Cowdin, chairman, remained on the Coast undoubtedly caused delay on carrying out the loan, Nate Blum- berg arrived in time for the meet- ing although stiU suffering from. a severe case of .grippe which forced him to bed again last Monday (12). Cowdin now Is not expected back ftom Ho.llywood for another week or 10 days. U EXPECTS $1,500,000 6-MONTH NET PROFIT Although the earnings statement covering the first 26 weeks of the company's fiscal year will not be out •until late this month or early june. Universal is expected to show $1,500,- OOO net proat for the first six months ended April 30 last, according to Wall Street estimates. This is before deductions for excess profits tax but ; after writing oft around $300,000 for federal income taxes. Figure com- pares with $1,381,001 shown in the flrst six months of the previous fiscal year. Universal's net profit before any federal tax deductions is expected to hit $1,800,000 in the six months ended last April 30, or in excess of 'il,000,000 for the three-month period ■overing February, March and April 'lis year. Pair Raft-De Havilland Hollywood, May 13. - George Raft and Olivia de Havil- land draw co-starring spots in 'All Through the Night,' slated for early summer production at Warners. 'Vincent Shermain gets the directbr chore. Par s Pre-Sales Previews June 1 SetfortheCoa^t Conferences will be held by high Paramount officials on the Coast around June 1 to screen 1041-42 pic- tures that are completed and to l-cbntrast to 1917 as far as the film map sales plans for the coming year, followed possibly by a convention or regionals. If no plans are laid for conventions or district meetings, h.o. distribution execs may cover the country to discuss the new selling and pictures, sales policy, etc. Barney Balaban,' Stanton Griffis, Neil F. Agnew and in all probability also Adolph Zukor, will go to the Coast six weeks from now' for the huddles with Y. Frank Freeman, v.p. over production and others. Bob Gillham will be there at that time, preceded on the way out by some exchange stops. Agnew may also visit some of the branches- either on the way west or following the studio powwo>vs. PRC EXTENDS BRIGGS. FROMKESS CONTRACTS Long-term extensions of their contracts were handed O. Henry Briggs, prez, and Leon Fromkess, v.p., of Producers Releasing Corp., at a board meeting in New York, Saturday (10). Production plans for the 42 pix on the coming season's program were also discussed. Attending the session were Briggs, Harry Asher, chairman of the board and Boston franchiseholder; and other franchiseholders who are members of the board. Including George Gill of Washington, Lee Goldberg of Cleveland, Bert Kulick of New York, Milton Lefton of Pitts- burgh, William Flemion' of Detroit, Herb Given of Philadelphia, and Jack Adams, Jr., of Dallas. RKO Seeks to KO Suit On Kevels' Plagiarism RKO last week sought to have thrown out of court the suit by Jesse Solomon charging the studio. Matt Brooks, Eddie Davis, Anthony 'Veiller and Mortimer OfTner with plagiarism in 'Radio City Revels, made in 1937. Judge Sarnuel Man- delbaum in U.S. district court took the motion for summary judgment under advisement after arguments by Gordon Youngman for RKO and Gustave B. Garfield for Solomon. -Solomon claims that Brooks and Davis, original writers on 'Revels, copped their idea from his play. 'It Goes Through Here.' Both plots are about a radio gag man who can write only in his sleep, but gets in- volved in a bad romance which gives him Insomnia. Veiller and Offner were assigned by RKO to assist Brooks and Davis on the technical end of scripting. UNNECESSAIIY 1941 Differs From 1917 Pe- riod Because of the In- dustry's Well-Organized Position Today GEN'L COOPERATION The film business does not antici- pate any heavy clampdown or meddling by the Government such as experienced in World War No. i; as, when and if the U.S. enters the war or a state of national emergency is declared,'as some believe is in the offing. Question on whether the same conditions prevail as in the first 'World' War has been raised lately because trade veterans are aware of the propaganda and cen- sorship strictness m'aintained, mtostly via George Creel, who held the mild title of Chief of Communications. Answer to these fears is that the situation is vastly different today In business is concerned. Then the pic- ture industry was. admittedly- in a disorganized state while today it is well organized via the Motion Pic- ture Producers & Distributors of America, Inc. The MPPDA wisely adopted a policy of cooperating with the Gov- ernment by. setting up a group of national defense committees and swinging into action several months ago. This is now well organized and actually operating, maintaining a pipeline between industry defense committees and Lowell Mellet, who heads the administration's public re- lations presently. Voluntary Cooperation However, with any establishment of a national emergency or declara- tion of war,- the present key men in the film business' defense committees likely would go on a permanent basis. "This accounts for recent re- ports that Francis L. Harmon, co- ordinator for all the industry's de- fense committees, would accept a post as permanent coordinator for industry defense work. If this is done (Harmon has denied all reports to date), he doubtlessly would, be given a leave of absence from his (Continued on page 18) JOE BREEN SET ASRKOSTUDIO BOSS Hollywood, May 13. Cieorge J. Schaefer, RKO prexy, yesterday • (T u • s d ft y7~ confirmed Joseph I. Breen as general manager in charge of the company's studio. Schaefer stated Breen had been signed to a long-term contract and will be elected a v.p. of RKO at the next meeting of the board. Breen will take over the new post as soon as he- winds up current job as chief of the Production Code Administration for the Hays office. He resigned .from the post several weeks ago but Is serving until a successor is named by H4ys. Par's Legit Stager Louis Allen, who has been on the staff of Gilbert Miller for more than seven years, has Ijeen signed by Paramount for a -direction job. He is due on the lot June 1. Allen was in charge of produc- tion for the legit showman and handled the staging of a number of Miller attractions. U.S. Film Committee Win Huddle With Ausde's Premier Menzies On Easing Frozen Coin in Antips I'm From Dixie, Too Hollywood, May 13. 'It's good to know someone who speaks my language,' chuckled Y. Frank Freeman, Paramount's gtudlo head, as he put an arm around the shoulder of Nlles n-ammell, NBC prexy, guest at a luncheon of picture execs. They're both from Gawgia. 20th-Fox Execs Set M Prod.; Chi Convention Hollywood, May 13. Expecting to have Its first block- of-five ready some time in - June, 20th-Fox Is tentatively set on a national convention in Chicago but will not hold it untU it has at least one group of five films . ready for showing to the sales bunch. Parleys dealing with production and the relation of the content de- cree to 1941-42 film production schedules were concluded over the weekend at 20th-Fox. Since then 20th-Fox distribution executives here from N. Y. have headed for the east. Conferring with Darryl Zanuck, Joseph M. Schenck and William Goetz were Herman Wobber, sales chief, and division managers William Sussman, WiUlam Gehring and William Kiipper, C^has. E. McCarthy, advertising-publicity chief, who came out at the same time for the confabs, remained on' the Coast until today, when he startled for N. Y. LB. MAYER'S $697,048 AGAIN TOPS TYCOONS Washington, May 13. For the. third successive year, Louis B. Mayer rates as highest paid American industry or business ex- ecutive, with other film personalities near the top of the list. Annual Re- ports filed with Securities & Ex- change Commission show Mayer's $697,048 was $8,677 more than in 1630. -Next in lint was Eugene G. Grace of Bethlehem Steel with $478,- 144. Hunt Stromberg, with $332,267, came in fourth and Nicholas M. Schenck, paid $318,881, was fifth. Like Mayer, they're Loew-Metro execs. Other big salaries included: W. C. Fields, $255,000; Deanna Dur- bin, $209,833; and Bing Crosby, $150,- 000. Many .film companies have not re- ported yet. Mayer's M, D. Checkup Louis B. ayer arrived in New York on Monday (12) to undergo a physi- cal checkup. He may have to undergo surgery. TIayV the Thin WaO' Hollywood, May 13. Lucille Ball draws her flrst so- phisticated comedy role as femme lead in 'Through the Thin Wall' at RKO. Graham Baker production is being adapted from the Ferenc Molnar stage piece, 'The Play's the Thing.' Committee from the film industry likely will huddle with Australia's Prime Minister Robert G. Menzies some time this week regarding the situation In Anzac territory and fu- ture prospects for American distrib- utors there. Undoubtedly, the ques- tion of getting additional remit- tances from the U.S. coin frozen there will be taken up, either di- rectly or indirectly. Workability of the lease-lend law also will be tested in this regard since Menzies is reported keenly aware of the necessity for maintaining a steady flow of screen entertainment Into Australia. US. film officials feel that Men- zies is highly cognizant of motion picture problems because he was active when representing exhibitor interests while still a barrister in Sydney previous to being elevated to the present chief executive post Several American picture execu- tives knew him well then, including John W. Hicks, Jr., Paramount's for- eign chief, then managing director . for Par in Australia. Council of Foreign Relations yes- terday (Tuesday) gave a N.Y. lunch- eon In honor of Menzies, with sev- . eral film people on the guest list. KUroe Vice Schenck To Be Voted On By 20th's Stockholders Edwin P. Kilrpe, directbr named to the vacancy^ On 20th-Fox direc- torate when Joseph M. Schenck re- signed as director and board chair- man, will come up for election in place of Schenck when^ the stock- holders name 12 directors' at the adjourned annual meeting tomor- row (Thursday). Kilroe, who has been with the company many years and most recently as attorney in charge of copyright matters, is the only new nominee in the list of 12, Other directors coming up for re- election at tomorrow's annual session are H. Donald Campbell, John R. Dllfon, Sidney a Kent, W. J. Eadle, Daniel O. Hastings, Felix A. Jenkins, W. C. Michel, William P.- Phillips, Hermann p. Place, Seton Porter and Sydney Towell. Because. 20th-Fox has not paid • dividend on the common stock for more than a year, more than the usual share of beefs ere anticipated In official circles from stockholder's at this session. WILL HAYS OUT OF HOSPITAL THIS WK. Chicago, May 13. Will H. Kays will be out of !a Chi- cago hospital In a few days. He has been taking a rest on order of his physician. Dr. Joseph Capps, who has given him the annual checkup for several years. During the past winter Hays had a session with pneumonia, and on recovery went to California In time for the rainy season. He selected Chicago spring climate as the Ideal health restorer and has been here for three weeks. Ratoff Takes Off Hollywood, May 13. First of Gregory RatoR's pictures as an indie producer-director for Co- lumbia release, 'Tonight Belongs to U.<:,' went before the cameras at the RKO-Pathe studio. Heading the cast are Loretta Young, Conrad 'Veldt and' Dean Jagger.