Boxoffice-December.25.1948

l
Film Aid Abroad Ask
By Bernard Kreisler
WASHINGTON—Government aid, perhaps
with dollars, to open the booths of the theatres
of the world for American films was
called for last week by Bernard Kreisler on
his return from a 13-month survey of the European
motion picture situation. Kreisler
will turn in a detailed reort on his findings
to the Harvard Business school, for which he
made the study. He is a former exchange
official of Paramount and Universal, and was
also an executive of Lester Cowan Productions.
Kreisler's feeling that government aid is
necessary sprang from his conviction that it
is important to world peace and progress that
the rest of the world see American films. The
producers of just about every other country
of Importance, however, receive valuable aid
from their governments, he found, and where
a government seeics to build up its own production
industry it is usually at the expense
of American industry.
The British film industry, more or less of
a fly-by-night affair before the war, is today
stabilized and exhibitors can be assured of
a flow of product, Kreisler said. He foresees
continued strengthening of the British industry.
But Hollywood films are likely to retain
their number one position in the hearts of
most European audiences, he believes, even
though they are out of favor with the film
critics and others of the intelligentsia.
Brazzi, Neal Nominated
Best Screen Prospects
NEW YORK—The December 21 issue of
Look magazine has selected Patricia Neal
and Rossano Brazzi as candidates for "bigtime
success" in the motion picture field
during 1949.
The 22-year-old Miss Neal will co-star with
Gary Cooper in "The Fountainhead" and
with Ronald Reagan in "John Loves Mary,"
both WB productions. She was a hit in the
Broadway production of "Another Part of
the Forest" two years ago.
Brazzi, a 31-year-old Italian actor, was
brought to this country by David O. Selznick.
He will be seen in "Little Women" (MGM)
and as the title rolist in Edward Small's "The
Life of Valentino." He was recently seen
here in the Italian picture "Furia."
Others slated for successful careers during
the next 12 months were: Milton Berle, television;
Lucille Ball, radio; AUyn Ann Mc-
Lerie, theatre, and Benny Goodman, music.
Eddie Cantor was applauded for his entertainment
and philanthropic work during
1948.
MGM to Handle 3 Pictures
For SRO in South Africa
NEW YORK—The Selznick Releasing Organization
has made a deal with MGM for
the distribution and exhibition of three SRO
films in South Africa, according to Leonard
R. Case, SRO treasurer. The three films,
"Duel in the Sun," "The Paradine Case" and
"Portrait of Jennie," will go into release in
South Africa early in 1949 and play the
Metro Theatre in Johannesburg and the
Metro in Durban, both first runs.
Paramount and Fairbanks
May End Association
NEW YORK—Probabilities are that when
the current contract for Paramount distribution
of the Jerry Fairbanks short subjects
ends shortly, it will not be renewed, a spokesman
for the Fairbanks office said this week.
He expected that some other major company
will handle the distribution, but said 'hat
because of television and commercial film
commitments, no nev/ contract may be signed
for several months. He emphasized that there
has been a "very pleasant relationship" with
Paramount.
Fairbanks has supplied Paramount with 18
shorts annually since 1941. They have been
the "Popular Science," "Unusual Occupations"
and "Speaking of Animals" subjects.
Fairbanks does not intend to stop theatrical
production altogether, but right now is busy
with 20 commercial clients, including Standard
Oil of Indiana, and the television companies.
He also is promoting a new tele
camera seven-inch lens which is said to be
16 times faster than any other tele lens and
to pick up pictures of only one candlepower.
ABC will u.se it Christmas eve at the midnight
mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
National Board Honors
'Fighting O'Flynn'
NEW YORK—"The Fighting O'Flynn"
(U-I), reviewed under its original title, "The
O'Flynn," has been given starred selected
features rating, the top honor of the National
Board of Review, in the weekly guide to
selected pictures. "Whispering Smith" (Parai
and "Words and Music" (MGM) were given
selected features rating.
Short subjects given special mention are:
"Champagne Music," "Clap Your Hands" and
"Hits of the Nineties" i20th-Fox) and "The
Little Cut-Up" (Para I.
Scophony, Ltd., Acquires
Baird Television System
LONDON—Scophcny, Ltd.. has acquired
the Baird television system through a transfer
of stock to John Logie Bair, Ltd., and its
associate, W. Andrew Bryce and Co., Ltd., engineers
and manufacturers of transformers
and component parts. Jack Buchanan, screen
and stage actor-manager and managing director
and principal .stockholder of the two
companies, has joined the board of Scophony.
Australia Now Has 1,674
Theatres in Operation
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA—The 13th edition
of the Motion Picture Directory, issued by
Film Weekly, shows there are 1,674 theatres
in Australia, Of these, 118 are wholly owned
or operated by Greater Union and 155 by
Hoyt's. There are 50 touring showmen, and
40 who are exhibiting 16nmn films.
Technicolor Ups Dividend
NEW YORK—The board of directors of
Technicolor, Inc., has declared a quarterly
dividend of 50 cents per share on the common
stock, payable December 31 to stockholders
of record December 22, according to
Dr. Herbert T. Kalmus, president. Dividend
for the previous quarter was 25 cents per
.share.
U-I Executives Take
Salary Cuts in '49
NEW YORK—The top administrative executives
of Universal-International will take
voluntary salary cuts during 1949 because
of current fiscal problems, according to home
office officials here. Among those who pay
will be reduced from 20 to 40 per cent are:
J. Cheever Cowdin, chairman of the board,
Nate J. Blumberg, president; William A.
Scully, general sales manager; Charles D.
Prutzman, J. H. Seidelman, Leo Spitz, William
Goetz, J. J. O'Connor, Matthew Fox
and Samuel Machnovltch.
The same executives are expected to receive
less in 1948 than in 1947, without salary
cuts, because their contracts call for participation
in profits. With the company facing
a loss for its fiscal year ended Nov. 1,
1948, according to financial circles, this will
not be forthcoming. The 1948 financial report
is due in late January. A year ago,
Universal-International reported a net profit
of $3,230,017.
The voluntary salary cuts were agreed upon
by U-I executives last August and were to
start with the beginning of the new fiscal
year. The date for the start of the salary
cuts was later postponed to January 1. The
salaries of contract producers, directors and
stars will not be affected by the cuts, it is
said.
Siegel and Markley Split
Gowthorpe's Para Duties
NEW YORK—Simon B. Siegel, assistant to
Montague F. Gowthorpe, treasurer of Paramount
Theatres Service Corp., and Sidney
M. Markley, who has handled legal matters
for the company, will take over the treasurer's
duties when Gowthorpe leaves the post
January 1. Gowthorpe is resigning to become
president and general manager of W. S.
Butterfield Theatres, Inc., in Detroit.
Leonard Goldenson, vice-president in charge
of theatres for Paramoimt. was toastmaster
at a farewell luncheon for Gowthorpe at the
Hotel Astor December 17. Barney Balaban,
Adolph Zukor, E. V. Richards jr. and Robert
O'Donnell paid tribute to Gowthorpe. and 60
other Paramount executives and theatre
partners attended. He received a solid silver
set and a testimonial book signed by all per-
.sons present at the luncheon.
Crown in Goldwyn Post
NEW YORK—Alfred Crown, foreign sales
manager of Samuel Goldwyn F>i-oductions,
has been elected a vice-president of the
company. Before joining the Goldwyn organization
three years ago. Crown was in
the armed services for two years and, before
that, he was with the coordinator of
international affairs (the so-called Nelson
Rockefeller Committee).
Columbia Loss $23,000
NEW YORK—Columbia Pictures Corp. reports
a net loss of S23,O00 for the 13-week
period ending Sept. 25, 1948. For the same
period in 1947 the oompany had a net profit
of $370,000. The figuies are estimated and
on a con.solidated basis.
50 BOXOFFICE December 25. 1948