Boxoffice-June.09.1951

'
French End Restrictions
On Remittances to U.S.
NEW YORK—The French government has
lifted all restrictions on film remittances to
the U.S. The news was supplied Wednesday
(6) by John G. McCarthy, head of the international
division of the Motion Picture
Export Ass'n, on arrival from Europe. He said
that the news of the successful conclusion of
negotiations he conducted during a six-week
visit to Europe reached him by radio on the
ship shortly before docking.
McCarthy could not estimate immediately
the amount of revenue that will accrue to
U.S. film companies as a result of unrestricted
remittances, but said it will amount
to several millions of dollars annually. Under
the 1948 agreement with France the amount
was limited to $1,200,000.
McCarthy will return to France in July
with Joyce O'Hara, acting head of MPEA, to
conduct negotiations looking toward a reduction
of the French quota, which now imposes
a limit of 121 on all U.S. films by providing
for five weeks of playing time for
French films each three months.
During his European visit, McCarthy also
visited Italy, Germany, Spain. Holland and
England. He brought back for presentation
to the MPEA board a proposed accord with
Spain. While he would not go into details,
he admitted that included in it were provisions
looking toward a new control over
Spanish import licenses now in the hands of
producers there. MPEA wants to end profiteering
by having the government take over
control of imports.
In England, McCarthy met with officials
of the Board of Ti'ade and Treasury on
formulation of a new annual remittance
pact. He said the U.S. objective is still
greater convertibility and that he will visit
London again in July with O'Hara and. possibly,
Ellis Arnall, president of the Society
of Independent Motion Picture Pi-oducers.
"Film business is very good everywhere in
Europe." he said. "Good pictures are doing
exceptional business. Our foreign managers
over there can't understand reports from the
U.S. that business is below par here. Films
there, especially U.S. films, are at the peak
of their popularity, and it seems incredible
to our managers that there can be worry on
this side of the Atlantic. Remittances are up,
too, but I can't supply any figures at the
present time."
Returning with McCarthy was Mrs. Mc-
Carthy. A delegation of the MPEA foreign
department met them at the pier.
Emerson Radio 26-Wk. Net
Drops Below 1950 Period
NEW YORK—Emerson Radio and Phonograph
Co. and subsidiaries report a consolidated
net profit, after provision for federal
income and excess profit taxes, of $2,366,542
for the 26-week period ended May 5, 1951,
compared to a consolidated net profit, after
taxes, of $3,048,948 for the same period in
1950.
The 1951 figure is equal to $1,22 per share
on the 1,935.187 shares outstanding, compared
to $1.57 per share on the same number of
shares in 1950.
42
Japanese Arrive in N. Y.
For Distribution Talk
NEW YORK—Takejiro Ohtani, president of
the Shochiku Film Co. of Japan, and K.
Shirai, a producer, are meeting here with
Adolph Zukor and Barney Balaban, chairman
of the board and president respectively
of Paramount Pictures, and George Weltner,
president of Paramount International. They
also will meet other U.S. film executives.
Shochiku owns studios in Tokyo and Kyoto,
has a chain of 1,200 theatres and various distribution
subsidiaries.
The talks concern preliminary plans for
dissolving the Motion Picture Export Ass'n
in Japan and setting up by the first of the
year individual distribution agencies by U.S.
companies.
Ohtani and Shirai will be here a month
before returning to Japan via Hollywood.
They were first welcomed there by Y. Frank
Freeman, vice-president and studio head of
Paramount, and Cecil B. DeMille. William
Piper, assistant to Weltner and former Paramount
manager in Japan, accompanied them
to New York.
Over 500 Bookings Dated
For 'Fort Worth' Start
NEW YORK—Over 500 theatres, a record
for a regional opening, have been rolled up
for "Fort Worth," according to Mort Blumenstock,
vice-president of Warner Bros, in
charge of advertising and publicity.
The picture will open at the Worth Theatre,
Fort Worth, June 13, with Randolph Scott at
the premiere. The immediate subsequent
bookings are scheduled in Texas, Tennessee,
Arkansas, New Mexico and Oklahoma.
A beauty contest is now being run by the
Fort Worth Star-Telegram to select the
premiere hostess. Tlie winner will be flown
by Central Air Lines to Lake Murray Lodge,
vacation resort at Ardmore, Okla., for a fiveday
vacation.
R. S. Benjamin to England
NEW YORK—Robert S. Benjamin, president
of the J. Arthur Rank Organization in
this country, a member of the board of Universal-International
and an executive for
United Artists, sailed Friday for England
with Mrs. Benjamin and their daughter. It
will be a business and pleasure trip. Benjamin
will confer with Rank and John Davis
while in London.
Beck in WB Colombia Post
NEW YORK—Ira D. Beck has been named
manager for Warner Bros, in Colombia by
Wolfe Cohen, president of Warner Bros.
International. Beck, who replaces Henry
Ronge, resigned, previously represented MGM
in Colombia and other Latin countries. Warner
Bros, has offices in Bogota, where Beck
will have his headquarters, and in Cali and
Barranquilla.
Dublin Group Sec
I
Variety Charier
|
NEW YORK—An application foiSva)
Club charter in Dublin has been Uivei
Marc J. Wolf, international chi I
barl'
It will be called Tent 41.
The 11 men who made the applies I
n
Louis Elliman, managing director L
i
Ireland, Ltd.; C. B. Sheridan, cfcl
Adelphia Dunlaoghaire; A. EUima iin
i
'
i
of Odeon Ireland;
Capital & Allied
branch manager
Patrick Parrel,
Cinemas, Ltd.;
of Metro-Goldw
;cto
Ly
-Ma
Ltd.; B. T. Britten, branch manag'of
I i
Century-Fox, Ltd.; M. Baum, direcC of |
Roxy, Forum and other theatres; >!';arf
branch manager of Paramount Filteenl
Ltd.; D. O'Keefe, manager oKCar)
Cinema; Peter Farrell, director i.Cai
& Allied Cinemas, Ltd., and V.;'tarli
branch manager of Republic Pictui LKi
Clubrooms will be in the Shelboi i,e hi i
Dublin. The clubrooms will inclu(,a It i
assembly room This will be the f,^th
in a foreign country
Proposed Italian Pac
Goes to FTC for Okay
I
WASHINGTON — Although tl,'Pe(i
Trade Commission refused to d'lss
matter, it was learned Tuesday »
the Motion Picture Ass'n of An ca
submitted the proposed Italian fi' as
ment to FTC for approval.
According to reliable informatic thi
the first time such an agreement ;is 1
submitted to a government agencjor
proval, although there was no expl utio
to why it was done in this case a- ni
others.
FTC officials admitted there wa jio i
plaint or prosecution involved and e: 'hai
that MPAA had submitted the agr ,-ien
their own, without FTC request, .^eyj
admitted that the agreement is ',-de!
view" but would go no further thi,ths
conversations with reporters.
;
It is reliably reported that IV iU
merely asked the FTC to certify nat
commitments it makes in the agr ner
not violate the Webb-Pomerene /- w
governs agreements made by expoyassi
tions.
fc
O'Hara Named MPEIV^
Present Officers Re-El de
NEW YORK—Joyce O'Hara wa; 'ame
vice-president of the Motion Pictil' Exi
Ass'n at a board meeting Tuesday
afl
>
noon and all incumbent officers ere>
elected. They are: Eric Johnstoi now
leave to the government, president ''vinf
Maas and John G. McCarthy, vice-i sidei
meeting of stockholders,
Sidney Schreiber. secretary; Fred ' Du\
treasurer; Herbert J. Erlanger, ass int:
retary-treasurer, and Frank J. Alfc ,
ass
ant treasurer.
The election
MPEA
was preceded by t«
who
am
all incumbent directors, except tl Art
B. Krim, president of United Artist' -epl!
Frank L. McNamee. former UA pr dent
director at large representing UA.
BOXOFFICE :: Ji ^'