Evening star., 1941-09-16
Clark 10 Offer Plan
To End Movie Trust
And Stop War Films
Inquiry Choirmon Fovors
Forcing Picture Industry
To Separate Its Units
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Senator Clark, Democrat, of
Idaho, personally convinced that
films are spreading war propaganda,
declared today that the practice
warranted legislation to force the
motion picture industry to separate
its production, distribution and ex-
hibition agencies
AS chairman of an Interstate
Commerce subcommittee which has
been hearing testimony concerning
movie policies. Senator Clark told
reporters he would ask the group
to consider recommending revision
of the Sherman antitrust law ito
destroy what apparently is a rAs-
nopoly in the motion picture in
duStry."
He said testimony before the sub
committee already had established
that exhibitors were forced" to
take what he described as "propa-
ganda films"
"Flops" at Box Office.
Il think that if it is possible to
split up the production, distribution
and exhibition of motion pictures" Z"
Senator Clark said, I'VE will destroy
the war propaganda movies, mas
much as testimony has established
the fact that they have been box
Office 'fops'."
The Idaho Senator said it seemed
obvious to him tnac if there was no
profit in the exhibition of so-called
propaganda films, independent
theater owners would refuse to show
them if they were freed of what he
said was pressure" by the major
producers and distributors.
Senator Clark's statement fur
nished the first indication that the
committee might consider concrete
legislative recommendations a point
on which Senator Mcfarland, DEM
ocrat, of Arizona has been insisting
the groups inquiry should turn. If
no legislation was in sight, Senator
Mcfarland has said, the committee
ought TO abandon what he has char
acterized as a futile" inquiry in its
consideration of resolution by Sen
ators Nye, Republican, of North Da-
kota and Clark, Democrat, of Mis-
souri, for a formal investigation of
war propaganda in the movies.
Fidler Charges Gag" Attempts.
Senator Mcfarland renewed his
demand for an end to the hearings
yesterday in telling the committee
that he disagreed with Chairman
Clark's statement that there was
concerted action" by group of
newspaper columnists to smear"
the committee and to halt the hear
ings
Jimmy Fidler, radio commentator
and newspaper columnist, told the
committee yesterday that several at
tempts had been made by Hollywood
producers to throttle his expressions
of opinions about movies, over the
radio and in the newspapers.
He testified that this long stand
ing controversy had been intensified
by his criticism of films which, he
contended, carried war propaganda
The columnist's testimony brought
commendation from Senator Tobey,
Republican, of New Hampshire, who
said he thought Mr. Fidler was be-
ing fearless" but Wendell L. Will
kie, representing movie producers,
declared in a press release the COM
mittee had found "a witness to its
liking-a gossip writer-one who
makes his living by unsupported and
unproven statements about other
people"
Offered Money, Critic Saws.
Mr.. Fidler testified that he had
been offered "a considerable sum of
money" in "a roundabout way" if
he would praise the film The Pris-
oner of Zenda."
He said the offer was made
through Russell Birdwell, an adver-
tising executive for David o. Selz-
nick. After he had rejected it, he
said, he gave a favorable view to the
picture because he thought it good
entertainment.
Later Mr.. Birdwell telegraphed
Chairman Clark denying Mr.. Fid-
ler's charges and demanding the
right to appear before the commit
tee Senator Clark said Mr.. Bird
well would be permitted to testify
later.
Willkie Comments.
A statement earlier in the day by
Chairman Clark that "75 per cent"
of newspaper columnists appeared
to be engaged in attempts to
smear" the committees inquiry,
brought a comment from Mr.. Will
kie that that makes Dorothy