Universal-International Pictures was the first major Hollywood moviemaker to decide that the little 16-and 8-mm. movies shown in homes, schools and churches had big domestic moneymaking possibilities. Three months ago, Universal set up a subsidiary called United World Films Inc. and jumped into the little movie pond. Last week, after much splashing about, United World emerged as the pond's biggest frog.
For some $2,000,000, it bought Castle Films, top-ranking producer-distributor of 16-and 8-mm. "packages" (film sold outright for private use). In 1946, Castle sold about one million packages—seven times as many...