Boxoffice-December.25.1948

THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY
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BEN SHLYEN
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lAMES M. lERAULD Editor
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lESSE SHLYEN Managing Editor
IVAN SPEAR Western Editor
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OXOFFICE
POINT FOR ORDER
•^^ HE RETORT perfect came from Eric Johnston
in response to Ellis Arnall's challenge for a pubhc debate
on the issues of improving American films and the industry's
alleged monopolistic practices. Said Mr. Johnston:
"Turning the industry into a debating society will not produce
better pictures. The way to get better pictures and to
solve our worldwide industry problems is for all of us to work
together.
I welcome Mr. Amall into the industry and invite his
cooperation to strengthen the industry."
Of course it would not have gotten as much publicity, but
Mr. Amall's entry into the business would have come with
better taste and spirit, if it had not been accompanied by the
chip-on-the-shoulder attitude that he so publicly displayed.
For one who so openly admitted that he had some half-dozen
other interests and that his new film job was to be of a parttime
nature, it would have been appropriate that he first leam
something about the motion picture business before making
such threatening statements as came from him in both Hollywood
and New York.
The four-point program that the new Society of Independent
Motion Picture Producers president armounced on the
coast did contain reference to cooperation with other industry
segments "in the furtherance of constructive aims." But this
was considerably negated by his "declaration of war" against
"monopolistic restraints" which he charged interfere with the
quality of films. We'd call that speaking out of both sides of
the mouth at the same time. Especially when part of the
"plan" is to get on a radio network program and tell the public
how poor are the films it is being offered because the alleged
monopolists won't permit the good ones to be shown.
And if Mr. Amall goes through with his promise, let us
say, to introduce restrictive legislation he will be further tearing
down the house which he allegedly has been hired to save.
One of the greatest causes of the troubles with which this
industry is beset is that some of its so-called leaders talk too
much—negatively. Whether sincere or not, it's about time
that the lesson was learned that we don't have to put ourselves
into the goldfish bowl in which the motion picture industry
allegedly is living; we don't have to make a public brawl
out of family differences; we don't have to wash one another's
Entered as Second Class matter at Post Office, Kansas City, Mo.
Sectional Edition, $3.00 per year; National Edition, $7.50
Vol. 54
DE CEMBER
No. 8
2 5, 19 4 8