Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1949)

30 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, November 12, 1949 Studio Roundup LONDON OBSERVATIONS French, BFPA Director , Lays Film Employe Salary Cuts and Picture-Making Drop to High Production Costs and Wages The troupes of Paramount's "September," and Universal-International's "Deported" completed filming outdoor scenes and background in Italy and arrived home last week. Interior shots got underway immediately on the Hollywood sound stages, where the two pictures could be given the advantage of superior technical treatment. At Columbia, Director Gordon Douglas started principals Louis Hayward and Patricia Medina to work in "Fortunes of Captain Blood," from the Rafael Sabatini novel. Hayward, already an experienced swordsman, is taking a brush-up course in fencing to perfect the Spanish method used during the period of the story. Now It's 'Mule Train' "Beyond the Purple Hills" rolled at Autry Productions. Director John English, again puts Gene Autry and Pat Buttram through their paces. Oops ! There goes that title. Autry and his producer, Armand Schaefer, purchased the current song hit. Mule Train, and so now "Mule Train" is the film's new title. The Lippert production, "Crooked River," starring James Ellison, completes the list of new pictures started last week, which, strangely enough, adds to only three ; the smallest number in a long time. Thomas Carr has the. direction assignment on the Lippert picture. Thirty-two paraplegic veterans from Birmingham Veterans Hospital were signed for speaking roles in "The Men," Stanley Kramer's filming of the story of the permanently paralyzed veterans of the last war. The first group of 19 were being given pre-production instructions by Director Fred Zinnemann at Motion Picture Center. , Fifteen professional acroibats and top stunt men have been signed for work in the hazardous action sequences in Warner Bros.' "The Hawk and the Arrow." However, star Burt Lancaster will perform all his own stunts. Bulova to Manufacture 'Academy Award' Watch Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has approved a contract licensing Bulova Watch Company to manufacture a watch to be known as "Academy Award," it has been announced by Charles Brackett, Academy president. According to Brackett, the Academy will receive a minimum of $125,000 over a four-year period from Bulova in return for the use of the phrase, "Academy Award," and the exclusive right to reproduce the Academy's Award of Merit ("Oscar") statuette in all advertising pertaining to this particular series of watches. The Board has voted to loan the money to the Academy Building Corp. to reduce the indebtedness on the Academy Award theatre building. Williams, King's Men To Stay On at U-l Universal-International has signed Tex Williams and his Western Caravan for a third series of eight three-reel musical westerns to be made next year. At the same time the studio signed The King's Men, popular vocal group, to appear in the 1950-51 series of "Sing and Be Happy" shorts. By JOCK MacGREGOR For the first time since his appointment over three years ago. Sir Henry French, director general of the British Film Producers Association, revealed a defeatist attitude at his November press conference. Tlie subject under discussion was the salary cuts inflicted on British film employes, and he frankly admitted that production was decreasing annually as the pictures were not realizing the money to put into new features. The blame is placed on high production costs and salaries. Personally, in view of the position held at the end of the war, I am joek MacGregor regretfully bound to add mismanagement and put the responsibility on those few individuals who neglect the public and box-ofiice alike. These offenders have been content to sit in their offices, read reports and blast the theatremen when a film has not come up to expectations instead of going out and getting first-hand knowledge of conditions. In the lust to create the perfect machine they have scorned the human factor and personal showmanship. The misuse of stars and technicians and poor selection of subjects have combined with the Quota Act, independent exhibitor resistance and the strange choice of American releases to accelerate the British crisis. The scorching summer was but the final blow. It is no secret that the Korda British Lion group would have been unable to continue its program without Film Finance Corporation aid and there is speculation as to what will happen when the loans are exhausted. Rank's program becomes less ambitious with each announcement and it is rumored that at the year's end only Pinewood will be operating. Meanwhile, ACT are referring their dispute over the proposed salary cuts to the Board of Trade. The boys do not believe this measure will save the day so long as certain individuals remain in command. Among the economies recommended to London Films by the government-sponsored FFC is the closing down of the central publicity department, and this has been put into immediate effect. Future photographs of J. H. Lawrie visiting the studios will in consequence be sent by unit publicity representatives direct to the trade press. Ingram Eraser, the publicity chief, has gone to Films of France, a new company which has been formed to look after the interests of the leading French producers in this country, and has leased the Rialto Cinema. The Italians are also looking with eager eyes at the British market, and passing through London on his way to New York recently was Dr. Renato Gualino, of Lux Films and president of their Film Producers Association. He spoke optimistically of dubbing their offerings into both English and American and hopes to get good returns for his efforts. I am afraid I provided a wet blanket to the proceedings, for I cannot see "dubbed" films succeeding in this market. There is a surfeit of properly recorded pictures with artists whom the public knows, and I believe the style and tempo of the Italian films endears them more to the discriminating patron, who prefers a sub-title anyway, than to the general run. Maybe if the dollar shortage continues we shall just have to get used to them. Paramount's Plaza Theatre is now planning to introduce stage acts to bring the crowds back to the West End where business continues to be far from brisk. Odd phenomenon is the success of "Third Man" which is still playing to near capacity at the Carlton after some 100 bookings in the suburbs. This certainly proves that the current short premiere run and general suburban release is inadequate for a good film. Incidentally, I took a second look at this winner the other night and reckon that its zither musical accompaniment has created one of the finest word-of-mouth publicity campaigns in years. This tricky, tantalizing little tune which is hard to hum yet fascinates all who hear it is the film's strongest selling angle. Phil Gersdorf, who came over to handle the American publicity for Walt Disney's "Treasure Island," has found many friends in this country and has made a gesture which will long be remembered with pleasure. Before leaving on the Mauretania, he was host at a small lunch for those national, American and trade pressmen who had given him particular assistance, and it was a really delightful function. Here's hoping that Phil and Beulah, his charming wife, will return before long. M exican Locales Set For 'Death on Side St.' With James }iIason and ^larta Toren in the top roles, Universal-International's "Death on a Side Street" will start shooting in Cuernavaca, Mexico, on Dec. 1. From there shooting will be transferred to Mexico City. Locations were chosen last week by Producer Leonard Goldstein and Director Hugo Fregonese. Broidy Names Schwalb Monogram Cost Supervisor Ben Schwalb, veteran motion picture executive, has been named cost supervisor of all Monogram and Allied Artists forthcoming product .by President Steve Broidy. Schwalb will work directly under the supervision of Broidy and will serve as liaison between the producers and the president. MGM to Make 'Ivanhoe' "Ivanhoe," Sir AValter Scott's immortal classic of romance and adventure, will be produced in 1950 by MGM in England, as one of the studio's most spectacular Technicolor films. Production has been assigned to Pandro S. Berman.