Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-06-08
~ Johnston Brings New, Enlightened Era Movies
Studios Wide Apart
In Their Reaction
To His Reforms

would have to be streamlined If the
bankruptcies of the early 1930s were
to be avoided. Better pictures
would have to be produced at less
cost. But any streamlining involv-
ing reduction in salaries or person
mel would be strenuously opposed by
the unions.
2. Labor Salaries are out OF line
with other industries. Many stars
get $100,000 or more for six weeks
work in one picture. A man who
blows a whistle every time rec
light flashes outside q sound stage
draws $103 . week. The cost Of
strikes has run into uncountec
millions.
Lean Days Foreseen.
8. Foreign trade. During lear
years, film exports have meant the
difference between loss and profit
and the industry believes anothe,
lean period is just ahead. AS former
president of the United States
Chamber of Commerce, Johnston
has valuable contacts in every ma
jor city In the world. To win State
Department approval of his cam
paign to dominate the world movie
business, he has plugged films as
Americas greatest statesmen, her
most natural and convincing am
bassadors of good will"
4. Domestic trade. This problem
amounts to virtual civil war. in
terrupted for a time by World
War II, but now resuming in
earnest. Johnston represents only
the big 10'' movie producers
Previous practices of the big TO-
have brought charges Of monopoly
from independent producers. The
big studios control large systems
for distributing their movies to the
Nations theaters. If independents
want their movies shown in a ma
jority of houses, they must agree
to conditions set by the big TO-"
Independents and the majors have
been fighting in the courts for years
and even now a monopoly" suit is
pending in the United States Su-
preme Court.
Caught Imagination.
Johnston had many qualifications
for the movie job, but among the
best was his famboyant fair for
capturing public imagination with
a new twist on an old idea.
Years ago, after the need for
morals code arose, it became appar-
ent that movies could influence peo-
pie as well as entertain them. But
it remained for Johnston to push
the idea that movies could influence
nations as well as people.
THE motion picture, prudently
and wisely used" says Johnston,
should be one of the most potent
forces for promoting friendship and
understanding among nations"
Industry spokesman believe the
movies are on the Threshold of a
new era. eve must change" they
say, IF we are to survive" Tele-
vision, third dimension screens and
new color processes will mean bet-
ter movies. AS movies improve,
these spokesman say, their influence
will increase. An overall produc-
ton code, regulating the ideoligi-
cal content as. we'll as the moral
content of movies may have to be
devised. Critics abroad already
have called for some sort Of United
Nations control over movies made
in one country and exhibited in
another.
When Johnston accepted the
movie post, many of his friends
wondered why he had abandoned
a promising career in politics. Now
they say he hasn't abandoned poll
tics at all, but is simpy approach
ing the same goal from different
angle. They point to Johnston's
own words at press conference:
II have been attracted to the mo-
ton picture industry" he said,
shortly after replacing Hays, "be-
cause it offers unlimited opportuni-
ties to work for peace and prosperity
at home and abroad"