PONDERS TAFT-HARTLEY WAL

Marcel
Walter
"
W.
Hopalong
Preston
'
Independent Production
Doubled During 1946-47
NEW YORK—The number of independently
produced releases from Hollywood
during the current season is almost
double the number of independent films
scheduled for 1945-46. according to reports
from the major companies.
A total of 63 independent pictures from
a total of 34 producers is being released
this year by eight companies, including
Monogram. Paramount. RKO. U-I. Warner.
UA, Republic and 20lh-Fox.
Last year 37 independent releases from 28
producers were distributed by seven companies.
Two distributors. Warners and
Monogram, welcomed independents to the
fold this season. Columbia had two independent
releases last year. None are listed
for the current season.
This trend toward independent releases
by the major companies has been gainm^
impetus for the past three years. Countless
Independent outfits have sprung up since
the end of the war. During recent months
the majors and other distributors appear to
have started a concentrated drive to sign
additional independents. Eight distributors,
including Screen Guild, have signed a
total of 17 new relea.sing deals with independents
in less than three months.
Screen Guild alone has set four deals with
newcomers to the independent production
field. These deals call for a total of 13 pictures.
Film Classics has bought out all but
three of its franchise holders and is lining up
independents on the coa.st.
RKO is increasing its independent releases.
Eight films from seven producers have been
scheduled for 1947-48 release. Four others
are in the offing. This current season RKO
lists four independent releases from four
producers.
Columbia also is stepping up independent
releases. Eight musical westerns produced
bv Autrv Productions will be distributed next
year. Another deal with Edward Small calls
for two features.
MGM has two independents coming up for
next vear, including "State of the Union"
from Frank Capra and "Joan of Lorraine"
from Sierra Pictures. Inc. The last independently
produced feature to go through the
MGM exchanges was David O. Selznick's
Wind."
"Gone With the
There has been considerable speculation
about whether many of the smaller independents—some
of them new arrivals in
Hollywood— will be able to weather high labor
and production costs and the effects of a
possible business recession.
The recent purchase of Liberty Films by
Paramount and before that the International
Pictures merger with Universal, seems
to several industry leaders to be the beginning
of a trend. Seymour Nebenzal. independent
producer for UA, predicted several weeks ago
that many smaller independents will find the
going rough as costs continue to rise and will
be forced to join the major companies to continue
in production.
A tally of the recent independent releasing
arrangements made by distributors includes
Columbia—2: MGM—2; PRC—2:
RKO—2; Republic— 1; U-I— 1; UA—3; Screen
Guild—4.
Several of the new independents, organized
in the past two months or so, have set
no releasing deals as yet. In this group are
Screenplays, Inc.. formed by Stanley Kramer,
former executive producer for Story Prod.;
Transatlantic Pictures Corp., organized by
Sidney L. Bernstein and Alfred Hitchcock;
Sol Lesser's new independent venture with
Robert Rossen; Arpi Prod., formed by Robert
Presnell and John Reinhardt; Harry
James Prod.—the band leader has bought
rights to "Downbeat for Two"; a new company
organized by Benn Jacobson. former
Eagle-Lion studio representative; new outfit
formed by Nat Goldstone. former Hollywood
agent.
The Seasons Independent Films
Here is the independent rclea.se lineup for
the current season by companies;
MONOGRAM—"The Guilty" and "High
Tide," lack Wrather Prod.
PARAMOUNT—"Seven Were Saved," "Fear
in the Night," "Big Town," "I Cover Big
Town " "Danger Street," "Jungle Flight. Pine-
Thomas Prod.; "My Favorite Brunette," Hope
Enterprises, Inc.; The Perfect Marriage' and
"Desert Fury," Hal Wallis Prod.
RKO RADIO—"Song ol the South," Wall
;
Di.iney Prod "The Best Years ol Our Lives,'
Sam Goldwyn Prod.; "It's a Wonderlul Lile.
Liberty Films; "Tarzan and the Huntress, Sol
Lesser Prod.
REPUBLIC—"Yankee Fakir, Lee Wilder-
'
"Wlnler Wonderland, Colmes.
20TH CENTURY-FOX—"Black Beauty," Alson
Prod; "Backlash." "Dangerous Millions
"Strange lourney." "Rendezvous 24," lewels
ol Brandenburg," "The Crimson Key, Sol "^
Wurtzel Prod.; "Wanted lor Murder. Meet
"
Me at Dawn, Hellman Prod,
UNlVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL-'Dark
Mirror
"" International Pictures (before merger
with Universal); "Temptation,"" International;
•Magnilicent Doll," Skirball-Manning Prod.;
Swell Guy,' Mark Hellinger Prod., "Smash-
Up,"" Diana Prod.; "Brute Force," also Hellinger.
UNITED ARTISTS—"The Bachelor's Daughters,"
Andrew Stone; "Angel on My Shoulder,"
Charles R. Rogers; "Little Iodine," Comet
Prod. "Strange Woman," Hunt Stromberg;
"The Devils Playground." Hopalong Cassidy;
"The Chase," Seymour Nebenzal; "The Sin ol
Harold
"
Diddlebock, Sturges; "Susie
Steps Out," Comet; "Abies Irish Rose, "
Bing
Crosby Prod.; "Fools Gold," Hopalong Cassidy;
"The Red House," Sol Lesser; "The Fabulous
Dorseys," Rogers; 'The Private Allairs
ol Bel Ami," David Loew; "Fun on a Weekend,"
Stone; "The Macomber Allair," Benedict
Bogeaus; "Unexpected Guest," Hopalong
Cassidy; "Carnegie Hall," Morros-Le Baron
Prod.; "New Orleans," lules Levey; "Ramrod,"
Enterprise; "Adventures of Don Coyote,"
Cornel; "Dishonored Lady." Stromberg; "Dan-
"
gerous Venture, Cassidy; "Copacabana,"
Sam Coslow; "Christmas Eve,"
Bogeaus; "Stork Biles Man," Comet; "Lured,"
Stromberg; "Heaven Only Knows," Nebenzal;
"Hoppy's Holiday," Hopalong Cassidy;
"The Other Love. Enterprise.
"
"
WARNER BROS—"Pursued and "Cloak and
Dagger," United Stales Pictures, Inc.
1'
^
Fabian Still Dickers <
For Purchase of UA
NEW YORK—Mar>' Pickford is stiU negott- I
ating with Si H. Fabian for the sale of Unitfc'
Artists, and Tom J. Connors, former Tkt
president in charge of distribution for JOlh
Fox, is still awaiting word from Miss Pick I
ford regarding the presidency of DA. H« i
the principal candidate for the post If UA i
not sold.
Decisions on these matters were suppcsr
j
to have been made by June 23, but last-mir.
'
ute hitches over the selling price and Uxt.
are reported to have held up the negotlaUonjI
There also were reports that one of tbe C
producers also has offered to buy the eocn
i
pany. Last week Miss Pickford had uk'
three other parties in addition to Fitibi
were interested in buying UA. Hovntr'
Fabian and his backer, the First Nitkitu
Bank of Boston, have the inside track.
The Fabian interests are said to have coct<
closest to Miss Pickford's asking prte r,
S15.000.000. She has said that she wantj r
500.000 for her share of the company, whx'.
she owns in partnership with Charles Ch»p
lin. There has been no statement frti5
Chaplin or his representatives as to hit |*tet
Reply on 'Blimp' Ads
Says Film Lost Money
NEW YORK—United Artists has to d
lost S11.064 on "The Life and Detth c
Colonel Blimp," according to the reply hj V.,
made to the complaints filed against the eiai>
pany by the Federal Trade commtekn
charging misrepresentation in "Blimp* atj
vertising.
^
The commission objected to the adi
the grounds that they represented the fOffl)
the original full-length feature praised t;
the critics when, as a matter of (act,
British-made film was cut from two IM
and 28 minutes to one hour and 31 mtmM
for U.S. distribution. The picture opt
at the Globe in New York in December IH
UA has contended that the shorter pieU
seen by the American audiences was Ml
stantially the same as the full-length (Qi
seen previously by the critics, therefore tl'
ads were not unfair or misleading. The col
pany also pointed out that most exhibilo
refused to take the film unless it was shot
ened.
UA said that rentals to June 7, 1947, fro
the film totaled $276,495, while print and a<
verti.sing costs amount to S287.559. HearW
will be held in New York July 18.
ATA and MPTOA Agree
On a Joint Tax Plan
NEW YORK—The ATA and MPTOA «
submit a joint recommendation to the ho*
ways and means committee the week o( Jit'
30 urging a straight 10 per cent tax on t
adult admissions and the ellminBtion of fc
federal tax on children's tickets.
The recommendation will be .signed by T
R. Gamble, chairman of the ATA, and
Julian Brylawski, vice-president of t
MPTOA. Both men had appeared before I
ways and means committee May 28 »n