The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1942-03-13
HOLLYWOOD
LOT
By TED TAYLOR


The motion picture studios woul
dearly love to be classed as a defens
: industrdy Lacking that, they try t,
act like one.
: Under the shock of Pearl Harbo
one picture director urged In paid ad
vertisements that the guilds of direc
tors, actors and writer's join with the
producers association to demand Z
day week in the studios. And hi
meant a week in which every EN-
ploye worked seven days
(This is along the curious line OF
thought of certain Hollywood com
mentators on labor. One editorial be
moaned the loss to theater business
of two and three shifts of defense
plants. After two shifts a worker
would be too tired to go to the
movies.)
The impulsive generosity of w. S.
Van Dyke with Hollywood's time was
so obviously emotional that no one
even bothered to snort at the 7-day
proposal. But the ideal 1t reflected
longer hours for film workers-has
popped up again in a report from
Washington that Hollywood was to
be put on a 10-hour day in order to
release one-third of its man-power to
war industries.
Herb Sorrell. head of the Confer
ence of Studio Unions (AFL), jumped
on that one fast. He wired the War
Production Board requesting the low
down. The answer from Frank ].
McSherry of WPB's labor division eff
fectively spiked the 10-hour rumor.
Civilization in war production of
skilled craftsmen employed in Holly
wood studios is a matter to be deter
mined locally by labor unions, studio
executives and war contractors" wired
McSherry. "The policy of the labor
division is to let local bargaining
agreements govern hours worked in
war production plants"
Hollywood is working the six hours
it bargained and signed for.
That declaration of government pol
icy may come as useful reminder
of rights in other industries.
Sorrells alert conference of five
studio unions was already working
out a program for the maximum use
of Hollywood labor in the war effort
This was in frequent consultation
with William Hopkins, who represents
the WPD labor division In Hollywood.
Hollywood's workers, like union
men throughout the country, are
eager to speed up production and |
ready to make any necessary sacri- |
ices. They will sacrifice for worth |
while results, not yielding hard-won
gains that make for efficiency.
A producer plan for making the |
picture industry more efficient is
promised by the committee that has
been tightening loose bolts In the
Hays office. PRONUNCIATION of for
long-range labor policy
or the industry" is one item prom
sed
Expansion of the overworked team |
If three labor contacts who deal for
he producers with 30-odd unions Is
simple starting suggestion from film Z
lnion men.
The studios are acting like de-
ense industry in other ways. Some
PERSONAL and prying questionnaires in
with the check on aliens
we're protested last fall
Now that it's war. the 4-page ques-
ionnaires probing personal back
rounds are appearing on other lots.
! finger-printing bureau, mot OBJ
lgatory," was set up at Paramount.
9th Century-Fox plans system of
asses in which photographs and fin
erprints will be essential features.
The studios are swapping up war
ime titles that are boxoffice naturals.
Pearl Harbor" has been
iven War Department o. X. and Re
ublic is producing it with Don Barry ,
4 the lead and President Roosevelt '
/ strong supporting role in news i