David and Jock

For the last five years, bushy, bespectacled Showman David Oliver Selznick and bland, bespectacled Socialite John Hay ("Jock") Whitney have been partners. Their firm: Selznick International Pictures, Inc. When Whitney invaded an industry long monopolized by a small clique of specialists, Hollywood veterans smirked, knowingly predicted he would singe his finger tips. But Whitney stuck to his desk as SI's chairman, this year laughed last as S-I brought out two of the season's most profitable films--Gone With the Wind and Rebecca.

Last week, to a chorus of backslaps and compliments, Selznick International formally announced its dissolution. After a weekend together at Whitney's Saratoga estate, Whitney and Selznick released to the press the S-I epitaph. "It is with profound regret," they said, "that we feel that the risks involved, due to world conditions, made it desirable for us to take this step."

More important to both was the condition in which they left their joint enterprise. The domestic grosses of GWTW ($14,000,000 to date), Rebecca ($1,800,000), other recent Selznick successes made it possible to retire $2,900,000 of debentures, 30% of which constituted Whitney's S-I investment. Company assets above & beyond were to be parceled among the common stockholders, who get their first dividend ($1,500,000) this week. Biggest stockholder was David.

Selznick International still owed its distributor, United Artists, two pictures. These will be produced by Selznick's new company, David O. Selznick Productions, Inc., 100% Selznick-owned. The new company will assume the contracts of such Selznick breadwinners as Vivien (Scarlett O'Hara) Leigh, Ingrid (Intermezzo) Bergman, Joan (Rebecca) Fontaine, dumpy Director Alfred Hitchcock.

While Selznick paced his office explaining the situation to reporters, he took nervous peeks at a gold wrist watch by which he futilely tries to be prompt. The watch, received shortly after the release of GWTW, bears the inscription in Whitney's handwriting: "David--Xmas, 1939. Praise de Lawd. Jock."

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.