MPAA

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Charles Brackett Is Academy Head; Hersholt Suggests Policy Changes HOLLYWOOD—The four-year regime of Jean Hersholt as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ended with the unanimous election of writer-producer Charles Brackett to succeed him. Chosen for the presidency by the board of governors, Brackett heads a new list of officers which includes; George Murphy, first vice-president, succeeding Brackett; Dore Schary, second vicepresident, succeeding Jack L. Warner; Emmet Lavery, secretary, succeeding Robert Montgomery; Johnny Green, assistant secretary, succeeding Thomas T. Moulton; Fred Metzler, treasurer, succeeding N. Peter Rathvon; and G. Carleton Hunt, assistant treasurer, succeeding Charles G. Clarke. Balloting was highlighted by the presentation of a policy-and-progress report by the retiring president, who refused to stand for re-election. Since Hersholt currently is in the east, his recommendations as to the Academy's future were outlined by Brackett. In a complete reversal of his previous stand—Hersholt, shortly after the 1948 Academy awards ceremonies, lashed out at several major film companies on the groirnds they were more interested in "commercialism" than in "artistic achievement"—he declared he had come to believe the Academy "would be justified in seeking a prestige sponsor" for the awards broadcast and also "in accepting other commercial connections" to raise funds for expanding the Academy's general program. Other Hersholt recommendations Staging of an international film conference in Hollywood, dedicated to supporting a "rising standard" in production "regardless of national boundaries." Increase in Academy memberehip over its present 2,000 mark. Construction or acquisition of a larger NEW ACADEMY LEADER—Charles Brackett, right, is the new president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, succeeding Jean Hersholt. Brackett is shown here with George Murphy, elected first vice-president. The Murphy whiskers? They're for an MOM film assigrnment. building to serve as Academy headquarters, including a museum to house oldtime film relics. Development of a standard format for awards presentations, which he suggested should be worked cut by a special committee. Development of a long-range program to map general organizational plans for five or even ten years in advance. Second TV Institute Held in Hollywood HOLLYWOOD—The second annual television institute was slated to get under way May 26 with the Screen Publicists Guild acting as host in conjunction with five local video organizations. Participating are the Television Film Producers Ass'n, the Television Producers Ass'n, Society of Motion Picture Engineers, the Hollywood Council of the Ass'n of Broadcast Unions and Guilds, and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Scheduled for discussion during the forums, which will be held once a week for five weeks, were such subjects as "management problems in television," "films in television" and "Hollywood's challenge as TV film production center." Mai Boyd of the TPA is coordinating the series. Boyd, incidentally, was just re-elected TPA president for a two-year period. * » Initialer in a projected new NBC-TV series based on the "Dick Tracy" comic strip will be turned out in pilot form for the network by Rudy Vallee's video production organization. Ralph Byrd has been set for the title role. Cameraman J. A. Valentine Dies; 1948 Award Winner HOLLYWOOD—A heart attack claimed Joseph A. Valentine, 45, veteran cameraman, regarded as one of the top members of the craft and a five-time Academy award nominee. He won an Academy statuette for 1948 for his color lensing of "Joan of Arc." A member of both the American Society of Cinematographers and lATSE Local 659 of survived by his vrife cameramen, Valentine is and infant son, his parents and a sister. Valentine's last lensing chore, recently completed, was on "Love Is Big Business," the Jack Skirball-Bruce Manning production for RKO release. The cinematographer began his career in 1922. He was a captain in the army signal corps dm-ing World War II. Gala 'Stratton Bow At Egyptian June 1 HOLLYWOOD—In gala film colony style MGM will usher in its 25th birthday celebration here June 1 with a "silver anniversary" premiere of the James Stewart starrer, "The Stratton Story," at the Egyptian Theatre. Ceremonies include attendance by stars and industry and civic leaders, the affair to be replete with lights, music, bleachers and loudspeakers. * • * "It Happens Every Spring," 20th Century- Fox's baseball comedy toplining Ray Milland, opened May 26 in St. Louis and in Pittsburgh May 27, with Linda Darnell, Jean Peters and Paul Douglas making personal appearances in each city. * * Republic staged a press preview of its anti- Communist opus, "The Red Menace," at the Academy Awards Theatre May 25. In addition to film and drama critics, the guest list included state and federal judges, city, county and state officials. 46 William Holden Narrates Rehabilitation Short HOLLYWOOD—Narration for a veterans' rehabilitation short, filmed by students in UCLA's motion picture department, was supplied by William Holden, a World War II veteran. The subject, a noncommercial educational project, will be shown in colleges and universities where many GIs are enrolled. Taking part in "covered wagon" celebrtions which are keynoting the U.S. Ti-easury's "Spii'it of '49" bond-selling campaign, Dane Clark, Wayne Morris and Peter Lawford planed for New Orleans, Atlanta and Cleveland, respectively, to star in rallies. Meantime, Red Skelton. Lizabeth Scott and Paul Lukas helped launch a "covered wagon" tour at Independence, Mo., and appeared at a bond rally in Kansas City. Cry Room for Majestic DALLAS, ORE.—Manager Don Wernli has announced a cry room has been built in the balcony of the Majestic. Norman Gatz did the work. UJW Theatres Division Pledges Up 20 Per Cent HOLL"YWOOD—Representing an increase of 20 per cent over the figures for 1948, the theatres and exchanges division of the United Jewish Welfare fund at a dinner meeting at the Ambassador hotel raised $112,300 in pledges to the campaign. The dinner was given in honor of Si Fabian, national chairman of the motion picture division of the United Jewish Appeal. His hosts included Jack L. Warner, Charles P. Skouras, Mack Sennett, Harry Popkin, Henry Ginsberg, Sid Grauman, Mike Rosenberg, Sherrill Corwin and Max and Kurt Laemmle. MGM to Handle 'Pandora' HOLLYWOOD — "Pandora and the Flying Dutchman," which will be produced independently by Al Lewln, veteran filmmaker and MGM executive, will be distributed under the MGM banner. Lewin some time ago secured a leave of absence from his studio berth in order to turn out the vehicle, based on his own original. James Mason and Ava Gardner have been set for the costan-ing roles. BOXOFFICE :: May 28, 1949
sd(McC(M ^cfront By JOHN SULLIVAN nNATOLE LITVAK'S production "The Snake Pit" opened in London last week to the biggest press accorded to any picture- British or American— for many years. Almost without exception the national newspapers treated the film as a top news story and all agreed as to its value and sincerity, while stressing that it was a subject only for those with strong nerves. In a banner headline Leonard Moseley of the Daily Express asks, "This Terrible Film- Why Was It Made?" and goes on to answer his own question by saying: "It will change your pity and horror of madne.ss into new sympathy and understanding. It holds out hope that diseases of the mind can be cured." With the publicity given to the picture it is almost certain to do standing room only busine.ss during its run at the Odeon, Marble Arch, one of London's biggest cinemas. On the day the film opened, although it was .set for an 8 o'clock premiere, waiting lines formed at two in the afternoon and the cinema reports the biggest advance bookings since the house was opened, bigger even than "The Best Years of Our Lives." Although "The Snake Pit" will run at the Odeon for as long as it will hold up, no circuit deal has yet been fixed as undoubtedly the circuit bookers want to gauge public reaction to the picture before committing themselves to a 300-theatre deal. * » * FOR SOME MONTHS PAST production at the Shepperton and Isleworth studios of Sir Alexander Korda has been merely ticking over. Apart from the Carol Reed picture, "The Third Man." which .stars Joseph Cotten, Orson Welles, Trevor Howard and Valli. the other films in production there have been modest. Now, however, following the wholesale dismissals of staff and internal reorganization Sir Alex seems set to start work again on the kind of lavish pictures for which he is famous. Starting on June 2 with Frank Launder producing and Sidney Gilliat directing is a comedy-thriller titled "State Secret," for which Douglas Fairbanks jr. has been signed to star. Launder will follow this with a film version of a successful play called "The Happiest Days of Your Life." Apart from this Korda has lined up for production a very ambitious composite picture about the great exhibition of 1851. which is timed to tie in with the Festival of Britain of 1951, the idea being to have the picture ready just before Christmas 1950 so that it will act as propaganda for the festival which opens here in the spring of the following year. As planned now the picture will be composed of several independent sequences with a linking narrative and these sequences will be directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, Launder and Gilliat, and Reed with Sir Alex him.self as producer and all the stars on the Korda payroll included in the film. « * * IN LONDON NOW, preparing for the first RKO Radio-Walt Di.sney British production, "Treasure Island," are Perce Pearce. the producer, and Byron Haskin, the director. They are supervising the building of .sets at Denham, where the picture will be made and already has been to the coast to buy a ship which will be converted into a brigantine. Apart from Bobbie Driscoll who will play the part of the boy in this famous classic of Robert Louis Stevenson, the only othel casting to date is that of Robert Newton in the role of Long John Silver. «: * INDEPENDENT PRODUCERS of Great Britain are worried as to the effect that the proposed agreement between the British Film Producers Ass'n and the Motion Picture Ass'n of America might have on them if it is concluded when the British and American film chiefs meet again on June 2. The British Independent Film Producers Ass'n has called a general meeting to di.scuss the whole situation because they fear that the agreement may mean a complete freezeout of their product from British or American screen time. GUESTS FROM ENGLAND—Three visitors from Britain were luncheon guests of Jack L. Warner, production chief at Warner Bros., during a recent Hollywood visit. Shown here, left to right: Michael Wilding, English film star: Warner; Robert Clark, production head of Associated British Pictures Corp., and Herbert Wilcox, English film producer. LAS VEGAS EXinBITOR HOST—Tom Oakey, owner of the Fremont Theatre, Las Vegas, is shown here conferring with Al Horwits, studio publicity director for U-I. The Fremont Wij-s the scene of a special press preview of "The Lady Gambles." Much of the picture was shot in Las Vegas. It seems more likely, however, that whatever arrangements the big three in British production come to with the American industry, they will, in futiu'e. offer studio facilities to independents instead of backing productions with their own finance. This trend is clearly to be seen at Rank's Denham studios, where several independent producers are due in within the next month to make pictures for Rank distribution. * * * ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN by the Cinema Exhibitors' Ass'n to di.scourage the showing in England of old films which show topline Hollywood stars when they were bit players. Ronald Haines, an independent producer, bought the British rights of two second features "Hollywood Bound" with Betty Grable and "Stairway to a Star" with Cornel Wilde, both of which are made up of sequences from very old films. The CEA, in a circular to members advising not to book either picture, points out that many patrons might mistakenly be brought into the cinema thinking that they were to see a new Grable or Wilde picture and be disappointed when they found that was not the case. If this custom becomes widespread, they say. quite justifiably, that it will reflect badly on the industry. * * MENTION WAS MADE recently in this column about the remarkable business that Ealing's comedy, "Passport to Pimlico." has been doing at the Gaumont, Haymarket, and the Marble Arch Pavilion. Now comes a note from Ealing .studios to say that at the latter theatre it has taken more money than any other film since the house was opened in 1914. Critics of Rank's booking policy have always maintained that it is a bad system to give all pictures the same run in the west end, whether they are doing good, medium or bad business and it does seem foolish that with these records being set the picture should now be withdrawn. Due for release on June 6, it will, however, play two large second-run west end houses, the Odeon, Tottenham Court road, and the Metropole, Victoria, for a week before going into its London release. BOXOFFICE :; May 28, 1949 W 47
Page 1 and 2: TOTAL NET PAID CIRCULATION EXCEEDS
Page 3 and 4: WSIGAIS.TOO! /' ft HWTTî^^^WI BARK
Page 5 and 6: viuciiio liU^T îiy uf inv ifiuun .
Page 7 and 8: 'PuUe Scît^ Exhibitor-CommunitY Re
Page 9 and 10: NEW CLEARANCE REGULATIONS CREATING
Page 11 and 12: . . The Things Looking Rosy, Para.
Page 13 and 14: ON BROADWAY! 010 ioflW WEEK !tft
Page 15 and 16: I HOtiyWOOD REPORTER N THE BOOKINGS
Page 17 and 18: , Davis of expression. Nothing In t
Page 19 and 20: I AVES OF RAVES FOR MONOGRAM'S SEA-
Page 21 and 22: I EING Grouped on the stage of Grau
Page 23 and 24: YOU CAN ALWAYS DEPEND ON THE COMPAN
Page 25 and 26: OP&M^> / -pRAisel Box-office power
Page 27 and 28: 'iôUeftiMMcC ^cfront Kramer-Stillm
Page 29 and 30: CHESTER FRIEDMAN EDITOR HUGH E. FRA
Page 31 and 32: Profit Producers The mammoth lobby
Page 33 and 34: Screenings and Tieups With Bookshop
Page 35 and 36: New MPAA Section Headed by Harmon N
Page 37 and 38: . . . Ernie . . Nate . . Bob . . W.
Page 39 and 40: . . Arnold . . Herman . . New . . .
Page 41 and 42: State Labor Board Certifies lA Loca
Page 43 and 44: (Hollywood Office— Suite 219 at 6
Page 45: Harold extreme Personnelifies SDG F
Page 49 and 50: 'Belvedere' Continues at High Mark
Page 51 and 52: . . Manager PORTLAND TSu'is Morgan
Page 53 and 54: . . . Exhibitors . . . The . . Hele
Page 55 and 56: Allied Rally at Peoria Draws 40 Sho
Page 57 and 58: . . Herman District Heads Study New
Page 59 and 60: NORTH CENTRAL CONVENTION RE-ELECTS
Page 61 and 62: ALLIED INDEPENDENT THEATRE OWNERS O
Page 63 and 64: . . Eph Booth Fires Darken Two Iowa
Page 65 and 66: SPEAKERS TO DRIVE-IN BY PLANE—The
Page 67 and 68: Drive-In Theaire Ass'n Formed in Pi
Page 69 and 70: Midweek Dark Night At Suburban Hous
Page 71 and 72: . . Boyd 'Strangers' Pulls 110 For
Page 73 and 74: . . Betty . . Betty . . Charles . .
Page 75 and 76: 8,000 See Bond Rally Kickoff in Bos
Page 77 and 78: . . . Loew's Reissues Stand Out At
Page 79 and 80: Drive-In Regulation To New Hampshir
Page 81 and 82: . . Ray . . Clever . . William . .
Page 83 and 84: Griffiih Suit Recess Until Last of
Page 85 and 86: theatre. An example of this is the
Page 87 and 88: . . . George . . . M. Rio Grande Sh
Page 89 and 90: Rebirth of Stage Entertainment Seen
Page 91 and 92: ORIGINAL MEMBERS RECEIVE TRIBUTES O
Page 93 and 94: Western Adventure Patron Taste No P
Page 95 and 96: U . . The . . Dottie Transit Strike
Page 97 and 98:
. . Irmgard . . Another . . Wives .
Page 99 and 100:
Armview Vaudeville Does Good Busine
Page 101 and 102:
. . ^ ST. JOHN LTamlet" was present
Page 103 and 104:
BOXOFFICE BAROMETER • EXHIBITOR H
Page 105 and 106:
and Fine.—Mrs. Pal W. Murphy, Que
Page 107 and 108:
CHECK RUNNING TIME WITH LOCAL EXCHA
Page 109 and 110:
CHECK RUNNING TIME WITH LOCAL EXCHA
Page 111 and 112:
APRIL 30 CHECK RUNNING TIME WITH LO
Page 113 and 114:
ana iraae press reviews, ine piua a
Page 115 and 116:
1 Happy Vol. 20th Century-Fox I Pro
Page 117 and 118:
Opinions on Current Productions; Ex
Page 119 and 120:
RATES: 10c per worcL minimum Sl.OO.
show all

MPAA

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?