Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1944)

HANK MOVES TO CONSOLIDATE /VORLD MARKET POSITION ompleting Deal with UA for Distribution of Top Films in the United States T. Arthur Rank, England's most important .ustry figure, this week brought to boiling nt several of his projected plans to break 0 the American market which have been on fire since last year. L He is currently completing negotiations London with Gradwell Sears, vice-presint in charge of distribution for United tists, for the distribution of his top-budget ns in the U. S. by United Artists. I. His American representative, Arthur W. illy, president of Eagle-Lion Films, Inc., negotiating a contract with English Films, c, independent distributor, for the hanng of the smaller pictures made by the nk producers. 3. Not long ago, he concluded a deal with yros Skouras when the Twentieth Cen:y-Fox president was in England, whereby Ji Century-Fox would produce on a 50-50 sis with him its quota pictures, four a year, iich the American company would disbute in the U. S. These moves point to further entrenchment Mr. Rank in the American market as soon the war ends, Mr. Kelly indicated Monday, e UA deal is for two years only. After it, Eagle-Lion will take over distribution re of the Rank product made in England, d also will begin a production program on own in Hollywood, Mr. Kelly announced, lese plans, he said, of necessity must wait on the war's end, when the manpower shorte and the scarcity of exchange facilities can hurdled. Until that time, however, United Artists will 1 Mr. Rank's $1,500,000 and $2,000,000 pactions in America. The deal originally was ifotiated between Mr. Sears and Mr. Kelly d the initial conversations took place soon er Mr. Kelly's overtures to Hal B. Wattis d Joseph Hazen were terminated by the .ramount deal with this new independent it. ould Welcome More ermanent Affiliation Meanwhile, in London Monday, Mr. Sears d that United Artists would welcome a "more rmanent affiliation" with Mr. Rank than is itemplated in the pending two-year contract, le UA executive made this statement follower a weekend visit to the country home of lippo Del Giudice, managing director of Two .ties Films, Ltd. Mr. del Giudice is reported have expressed "supreme pleasure" with the Dgress in the Sears-Rank negotiations. Two ties' films are to be included in the product ;tributed here by UA. An important development in Mr. Rank's Dduction objective is the appointment of Wes• Ruggles, who recently severed his associan with Sir Alexander Korda. Mr. Ruggles 11 supervise all British productions for Mr. .nk. Mr. Ruggles is planning to come to the S. early in August. Under the UA deal with Mr. Rank, imporit product of four British producing comnies controlled by the British film executive RANK IS EXPECTED TO VISIT UNITED STATES J. Arthur Rank, British film leader, may come to the United States shortly to settle certain problems in connection with his increasing interest in American film matters. Arthur W. Kelly, president of EagleLion Films, Inc., U. S. branch of the distribution company organized last winter by Mr. Rank, said in New York Monday that the British film leader was "hoping to get here as soon as things could be arranged". will be handled by the American company in the U. S. The production units are: Archers Film Production, Ltd., headed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger ; Independent Producers, Ltd., Paul Soskin, director; Two Cities Films, Ltd., Mr. del Giudice, managing director, and Pascal Film Productions, Ltd., headed by Gabriel Pascal. "Colonel Blimp" Among First Films for UA Among the pictures scheduled for UA distribution here are the following: "Colonel Blimp," produced by Archers, which will be cut, to fit the needs of American exhibitors; "The Way Ahead," originally a Samuel Goldwyn quota picture, made by Two Cities ; "Canterbury Tale," Archers ; "Flemish Farm," Two Cities; "Gentle Sex," Two Cities; "This Happy Breed," a Noel Coward film, Two Cities; "Henry V," Two Cities, and "Caesar and Cleopatra," now in production, Gabriel Pascal. The smaller British product, budgeted between $400,000 and $500,000, may be distributed in the U. S. by English Films, Inc., of which Nat Sanders is president, pending conclusion of a deal with Mr. Kelly. The films are : "Dear Octopus," "On Approval,". "High Gang," "Hard Steel," "Millions Like Us," "King Arthur, Gentleman" and "Time Flies." According to Mr. Kelly, the Hollywood-made product made under the Eagle-Lion banner will be postponed until after the war. UA will have no hand in these production plans, he indicated, and Eagle-Lion here will distribute these pictures nationally, once the company's distribution organization is set up. To Meet Film Tastes of American Audiences Mr. Kelly said that Mr. Rank planned to increase British product in "caliber as to star and story values to meet the tastes of American audiences. He is now trying to engage some of Hollywood's best screen writers," and an announcement in this connection will be made shortly. Currently Mr. Rank and Mr. Sears are working on the UA quota problem, Mr. Kelly added, and probably the British film leader will make a deal with UA similar to the one he concluded recently with Mr. Skouras. Mr. Rank will cooperate on a 50-50 basis in UA's quota production. The American company needs a maximum of three quota pictures a year but could do with two, Mr. Kelly said. UA has had no production facilities in England since Sir Alexander Korda became associated with MGM. It has been reported that UA'S 50 per cent share in Odeon Circuit of England, the other 50 per cent of which Mr. Rank owns, would be used as a bargaining point in the SearsRank talks on production-distribution. According to the Eagle-Lion representative, UA has no intention of selling its Odeon shares to Mr. Rank. Involved Picture of World Distribution As the very involved Rank film matters stood this week, the breakdown of world distribution of British pictures is as follows : 1. The four Twentieth Century-Fox quota pictures; two may be distributed in the U. S. by Twentieth-Fox, and two by the U. S. EagleLion branch; all four to be distributed worldwide by Twentieth-Fox. Budgets for the four already have been set by Darryl F. Zanuck, who will prepare the subjects here for shooting in England, and will also send over to London Twentieth-Fox stars. 2. Eagle-Lion, Ltd., will handle world-wide distribution of the top-budget Rank productions and is now distributing such pictures in England, India, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. 3. The top-bracket Rank productions to be distributed in the U. S. by United Artists. 4. Smaller films to be handled in the U. S. by an independent distributor, probably English Films, Inc. 5. General Film Distributors, controlled by Mr. Rank, will distribute the smaller British pictures in England. GFD also distributes Universal product in England. 6. Eagle-Lion, Ltd., will distribute only about eight top pictures in England plus whatever American films will be made in Hollywood under the Eagle-Lion banner. 7. The South American market probably will be handled by United Artists, according to Mr. Kelly, with UA deciding which of the important Rank pictures would have the widest appeal in this market. Theatre • Distribution Setup in Australia The Australian aspect of the Skouras-Rank deal develops as a theatre-distribution setup of dominant importance, in the opinion of several leading Australian exhibitors. It is understood that the Rank interests have lined up the Hoyts Theatres, linked with Twentieth Century-Fox, and GBD. Greater Union Theatres, headed by Norman Rydge, has not as yet come into the picture. According to reports, Mr. Rank also plans a hand in Australian production. Meanwhile E. T. Carr, executive of EagleLion Films, Ltd., is en route to India to look over distribution operations there for Mr. Rank. And in Canada, Empire-Universal Films has concluded a contract with Mr. Rank for exclusive Canadian distribution in 1944-45 of 20 features from Eagle-Lion and Two Cities. John Davis, managing director of Odeon Circuit in England, who is visiting Canadian key cities during his survey of exhibition matters in that country, will arrive in New York August 14, Mr. Kelly said Monday. DTION PICTURE HERALD, JULY 29. 1944 3!