Variety (Sep 1942)

Wednesdmy, September 2, 1942 PICTURES 27 ARMY CIRCUIT 2D TO PAR Dlovies Not a Luxury' Newark, Sept. 1. Importance of films as a wartinae necessity was emphasized edi- torially here Sunday (30) by the Newark Sunday Call. Replying to a reader who called pix a 'luxury' and suggested that they be open only weekends during the war, the newspaper In an edi- torial titled 'We Need Recreation,' asserted: The movies are definitely not a luxury. They are one of the most Inexpensive forms of entertainment and provide diversion and re- laxation for millions. 'Even more than in peacetime, recreation is important during a war, when the public is working hard and suffering prolonged physical and nervous strain. Many find relaxation in baseball and other sports. Others find it in dancing, cards, reading, music, the radio. Each is indispensible. 'Suspension of baseball, elimination of dancing or closing the movies would have widespread and disastrous effects on national morale. The Government is opposed to restricting facilities for mass entertainment, and wisely. We need more of them, not less, for they help keep us healthy and sane. Ai atmosphere of gloom wlU not help win the war.' Inevitable That Govt Restrictions On Film Must Curtail Productions Washington, Sept. 1 The motion picture industry will learn in the next two weeks just what it may expect in the way of Government restrictive measures tor the conservation of raw film stock. At present it is clear that (1) some form of curtailment of film through rationing or allocation of raw stock by the War Production Board is in- evitable, and (2) the compulsory curtailment is likely to go well be- yond the approximate 20% which the indtistry volunteered to make. In the face of present and pros- pective demands of the armed serv- ices and ' the Government agencies for stock needed for training and morale pictures, WPB is trying hard to And some solution to the conservation problem which will cause as little upset to the industry as possible. It appears to be a fore- gone conclusion that the Govern- ment will be telling the studios the number of films they can make and the amount of film they can use. Harold Hopper, chief of the mo- tion picture and photographic sec- tion of the WPB, has asked film companies to give figures showing the number of pictures made and the total footage of film used since 1940 and also the number of bookings for each film distributed. This informa- tion, together with the figures of amounts of unexposed film in the hands of producers and others, at the time of the freeze order will give the WPB data tliat it needs to de- termine in what direction it will move in its conservation plans. This search for information is prepara- tory to decisions as to the extent supplies and potential future produc- tion of raw stock will cover the pros- pective needs of the armed services and the government agencies, and as to the measures that will be ordered for conserving film. While it was reported some time ago that WPB was considering ban- ning the showing of double features as one way of conserving film, that proposal is now getting no serious discussion and WPB is not con- templating at present taking any step in that direction. More Disney U. S. Shorts > Hollywood, .Sept. 1. This coming season the Walt Dis- ney Studios will use nearly 10 times the amount of film consumed for production in former years due to the heavy output of Government training plc^pres. The amount will probably total 300,000 feet. PARENT-TEACHER'SFILM REVIEWING SERVICE Comn'l Shorts Figured OK Detroit, Sept. 1. This area's numerous commercial picture studios, whose work has been closely coupled with defense work, see no change in their pres- ent commitments because of the War Production Boards bans on raw stock. In fact, they see their situa- tion bettered under the present in- terpretation of the regulations. While certain matters cannot be discussed because of military rea- sons, it was indicated that the stu- dios here not only have a large stock of film on hand but because of the type of work they have been performing are in a mnie important category than ever before. They have done a large amount of work on training films and others for the armed forces and, in addition, being closely allied to plants engaged in war production on priorities for all future film requirements. 'National Parent-Teacher,' official magazine of the National Congress of Parents and Teachers, is reflecting renewed interest in better pictures by inaugurating a new service for its readers with the September issue. Some IS new pictures are reviewed in !^ new section, covering nearly three pages, which will be devoted to this sort of reviewing service on new product. Each review breaks down the screen subject as to whether suited for adults, youngsters or general family consumption. The reviewing department is supervised by Ruth B. Hedges. Product is previewed in Hollywood as a result of the co- operation of all studios. Inauguration of this service on screen product is a community affair, and rated of strong value to the in- dustry as a whole. Parent-teacher group was sought as a co-operative factor with the film business because, at one time, it was less favorably in- clined towards the industry. Under- stood that the Hays office was in- strumental in encouraging 4his re- viewing service. So You'll Know 'Em Hollywood, Sept 1. How to identify Army aircraft is the subject of 12 service films to be made at the Walt Disney Studio under auspices of the Academy Re- search Council. Filming gets under way this week with Edwin Verily directing. Rock of Atlantis Hollywood, Sept. 1. Seymour Nebenzal, head of At- lantis Pictures, announced 'Corregi- dor' as the third of six features to be made for Producers Releasing Corp. < Picture, dealing with MacArthur's stand in llie Philippines, will be di- rected by Edgar Ulmer. OF PRINTS II Because of Camp Cinemaa' Huge Consumption o 1' Product, Distribs Urge This Allocation Shoulc Not Be Charged Against the Industry's Raw Film Rationing 825 THEATRES NOW Pete Smith's Roller Skater Detroit, Sept. 1. Melva Block, 17-year-old national roller skating champ from here, has been inked in to do a skating short for Metro. She goes- west in October to make the Pete Smith film. U. S. Army theatres, approxi mately 87 last year, 82S mirrently and scheduled to reach the SCO mark before the end of the year, now constitute the second largest cir' cuit in America (Paramount first), involving booking and print prob- lems which, in view of current cel- luloid conservation plans, are sched- uled to be taken up by the film in' dustry's advisory committee at the next War Production Board huddle in Washington around the end of this month. Regardless of any allocation or rationing order, expected any week now from the WPB, film industry reps contend that raw film stock used for prints sent to army camps should not be charged up against their regular celluloid allowances, Question being argued also is whether stock for Victory Shorts, such as those made upon the sugges- tion of Lowell Mellett, should be additional to regular production re- quii'ements. Special PrvMeai The U. S. Army theatre circuit, roughly the equivalent of the com- bined Warner and National Theatres circuits, is regarded as involving a special conservation problem in it- self, since camps are numerous in some sections of the country and non-existent in others. In this way film exchange facilities in some sec- tors are heavily taxed in meeting both military and regular civilian theatre requirements. Figuring on a basis of 40 showings per print, the Army circuit alone requires 20 to 25 additional prints per picture released, i'icture meir also point out that Army theatres get film first, sometimes 30 days or more ahead of regular release schedules, and wiUiout regard to clearances of regular theatres. Question as to which films are to be charged up against regular in- dustry needs, and those for which the Government should make extra allowances, is among matters sched- uled for adjustment in connection with the impending rationing order. Chief topic at the last session of the liim industry advisory commit- tee with the WPB in Washington Aug. 25 was on method or procedure in filing application for stock under the WPB freezing order. Speaking for the Government, Harold Hopper stated that stock for newsreels, which had previously been regarded as exempt from WPB restrictions, would have to be applied for through the regular channels in the same way as applications for other film production. This is likely in- tended to circumvent possible use of newsreel stock for other purposes. Meantime industry reps are re- portedly desirous of having the re- ported WPB rationing order issued as swiftly as possible, so as to know on what basis production and dis- tribution can proceed. Hopper stated last week that he may have the ra- tioning order ready shortly, but did not give any specific date. Aside from the industry's pro- posed percentage-wise cut in use of stock, Hopper is also mulling a ra'.io.ning plan whi'-h, if placed in effect, would curtail production by specific rather than flexible methods, such as fixing total number of pic- tures for each company, numt>er of prints per picture and number of bookings per print Distribution of $80,000,000,000 War Contracts Among Certain'States Poforce Is Reflected at Film B.O. Pierce Towers' Producer Hollywood, Sept. 1. Charles R. Rogers appointed his assistant, WiUiam A. Pierce, to take over the associate producer chore on 'The Powers Girl,' to be made for United Artists release. Pierce succeeds Monty Schaff, who left for Joplin, Mo,, to join the Army. 17 COMPLETED ON RKO SUTE Hollywood, Sept. 1 RKO finished shooting on 'Once Upon a Honeymoon,' making a total of 17 pictures in the editing or com- pleted state for this season's pro- gram. Preparations are being rushed for continued high-speed production during September and October. Finished features are TTie Navy Comes Through,' 'Here We Go Again,' 'Army Surgeon,' 'Seven Days Leave, 'The Cat People,' 'Seven Miles From Alcatraz,' 'The Falcon's Brother, 'Ladies Day,' Ihe Mexican Spitfire's Elephant,' Highways by Night' and six Tom Holt westerns. In addition, the company will release two com pleted outside pictures, 'Wings and the Woman,' made by Herbert Wil- cox, and 'Journey Into Fear,' a Mer cury production. ' NTG NITERY REVUE TO BE FILMED BY MONO Hollywood, Sept. 1 Nils T. Granlund has signed a deal film his entire Florentine Gardens revue at Monogram under the tUTer "Bye, Bye;-Bab>,' to be pfc- duced by Sydney M. Williams. Musical starts shooting Sept. 12 with Gale Storm In the top role and all the N.T.G. principals and chorus. Script is being written by Carl Foreman and Charles Marlon. 'Moscow Strikes Back' Has Real-life Tieop 'Moscow Strikes Back,' Artkino pic at the Glot>e. N. Y., has one of the best publicists any flicker could want—the Red Army. Film was nixed for national re- lease by major distribs couple of weeks ago. Last week the Red Army successfully counter-attacked along the Moscow front—with ap- propriate headlines in daily papers— and couple of the outfits that had originally refused the deal reopened negotiations. Dreyfuss' Plane Decor Henry Dreyfuss, who designed the striking interiors of the Trylon at the N. Y. World's Fair, the 20th Century train, etc., has just com- pleted design of the interiors for the new Vought-Sikorsky 'Flying Aces,' 32-passenger planes with sleeping accommodations. Dreyfuss was tormer art dUectcr and designer of the Strand Theatre in New York under Joe Plunkett and his stage sets and scenic designs established a new Broadway stand- ard for outstanding merit. Having an Important bearing on wartime boxoffice possibilities now, as well as for the future, and sharply reflected in the grosses shown since the country initiated its prenared- ness program prior to Pearl Harbor, are the distribution of defense con- tracts among the various states. The- atre operators cite the great varia- tion In Government 'commitments among the various states, as well as the spotting of army camps, in point- ing to the great differentials in gross business at the theatres due to the war. While so far eight of the larger states have received more than half of the more than $80,000,000,000 awarded in defense contracts, H is possible that complaints of the past and in the future may spread the money around a little more so that hard-hit states will obtain-some re- lief. It has been strongly inferred in some film quarters that certain states have been deliberately shunned due to politics and the local state setups. iMbUonlsts Stopped? North Dakota, which is at the bot- tom with only $270,000 in war con- tracts, is the state from which Sen- ator Gerald P. Nye, who was very active as an isolationist and in op- position to the New Deal, halls from. Montana, whose Sen. Burton K. Wheeler has also long been a thorn in the side of the Roosevelt admin- istration, has been awarded only $30,957,000, which puts it third from the cellar. Wyoming rates seemd lowest at $25,074,000. As result, states like Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Da- kota, Nevada, Idaho, Florida and the two New England states, Vermont and New Hampshire, which awre the only two to go Republican in the Roosevelt-Landon election, are both film b.o. and general business sufferers. On the other hand, states in the $1,000,000,000 column on defense con- tracts and commitments, with tlieir populations increased through inva- sion of out-of-state plant help, have vastly stepped up as fertile b.o. fields ._. .. The War Production Board com- pilation on defense contracts from the beginning of the defense pro- gram to the end of June last, tab- ulated at $7,540,191,000, does not In- clude smaller commitments bringing the figure to more than $60,000,000,000. States and contracts follow: (In''thousands o/ dollors) Supply raciUtie* .Sla(p. Total, ronlracua. proiectA. Till. reiHji lcJ.. 77,.'>lU.ail'.'J.'i.-IIT.aiiS 2'J.0W.004 A la bn mil , ,., Arizona ArknnHuH .... Callrnrnla ... (*olor:iiln .... Conncclit-ul .. I>rln WH ro J>iHl. C'ulUln.. Florhlu QcorKlu Idiilio IllliiolK ndlana Inwit KanHHH Kpnlui-hy ... LoulHkunu ... .Maine .Mai-ylun,! ... MnM^irhu'ltM. .MIchlKU'i .... .MInnc)«otn MI,:!<lHHl|)pl .. MlMOurl .... Montiiii.'i .... NcbrHAka ... .N'cvadu iV. Hnmpyhlre N«w J(»rspy. . .\>w Sicxk'u.. .\ew Yoi-k.. . N, Carnllna'.. N. IJakola... Ohio Oklnhoma ... Orcifon P«nni,>1 Rliado LflanJ R, Carolina., Dakota Teon<w«e ... TPxaa uuh V-rmon, .... VliBlaU .... Waah'ton .... W. Vlix^nU.. Whiconaln . • • WyomJOff ... 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