One of the Masters?

"I feel it inevitable that three years hence I must be one of the masters of the picture business." Thus, 15 months ago, shrewd, star-bargaining Hollywood Producer David O.Selznick appraised his future. He was holding himself in.

Last week. Trader Selznick rode into the master's list with a bang. He announced that he had coupled his talents, audience prestige and star power (Hollywood's second best) with the distribution outlets and capital of Britain's movie king, tall, pious Joseph Arthur Rank. It was a deal that every major Hollywood studio had hoped to turn. Selznick made it during Rank's recent Hollywood visit (TIME,

July 9);

Selznick and Rank had formed a new company--Selznick International Pictures of England, Ltd. It was to be financed 100% by Rank (as board chairman), and run by Selznick (as executive producer). Under the contract, voting powers would be equal. In 1946 they would make three pictures abroad. The first would be a $5 million special called "Mary Magdalene," starring Selznick-owned Joseph Gotten and Ingrid Bergman.

For many another Hollywood bigwig, the deal with Rank would have seemed enough of an accomplishment. But not for David Selznick, 43, who was reared in the movie business (his father headed Selznick Pictures during the last war) and had come up fast. Last week there was ample evidence that the man who had become rich and famous on Gone With the Wind was trying to move in on RKO, Hollywood's fifth largest moviemaker.* One day Selznick personnel took over the entire top floor of one RKO building. Forthwith, production was stopped cold on three RKO productions to make way for bigger pictures; many of the company's producers and starlets were paid off like extras.

Hollywood rumor had it that David Selznick had his eye on 50% of RKO's stock. But his eyes were big. Floyd Odlum's Atlas Corp., which owns 46% of RKO, has shown no inclination to sell even one of its 1,300,000 shares.

* On July 15, RKO announced that it had completed a production and distribution deal involving several upcoming pictures with Selznick partner Rank.

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