Variety (Jan 1936)

•FARiisTys'. i.osi»ov orncR. • St Martin's I'lace. Trafnlcar Hqaar* INTERNATIONAL FILM NEWS Teli«plion« Temple llHr n04t-KMS riiMe AdilresN: VAHIR'rT. LONDON 19 Britons in Hollywood Hollywood, Jan. 7. Hollywood is just about another PlcadlHy, dpclares Herbert Marshall. Xo longer a siirprlise to 'see such players as Cicely Courtneige, Edmund Gwenn, or writers like. H. G. Wells arid Hugh Walpole, saunter. irig down the botilevard. Leslie Howard, over whom the Warner studio Is more than ililldly concerned because he . insists on dueling without -guards, lays down the dirk to admit he Is pleased with the RomeO role, opposite Xorma Shearer, but take.s the stand that the stage is his first love and pri vlly the actor's medium. Reg Denny and Basil Rathbonei in dressing gowns and towels around their necks, . eating German dlsheis in Metro cafe. Constance Collier, trailing long liack lace ovei* purplie. satin underskirt gown of the 'SOs, remarldrig on the 'different' feeling it gives one to wear such . . . gentler, y'knoW. Henry Stephenson; on the last days oC 'Little Lord Fauntleroy,' questioning why studios wait till the last moment to make costumes^ Says he' works all day and tries on costumes all night to prepare for his next pic. Jane Darweli in^hei* own seventh heaven on receiving a message from H.. G. about her hew pic to be made under .his supervision in England. Sybil Jason washing clothes for her family of dolls. Henry Svilcoxon has renamed his new. valet, whom he brought back from London, Jeeves. Vic MacLaglcn probably will riot get ovier to England to make that G-B* pic until summer. He's been cast in 'another' at 2pth-Fox. The c; Aubr . Smiths have redecorated tiielr home in Coldwater Canyon. Very English and very country. Merle Ober.an excited over David Niyen's playing lead In Wanger's new pic, 'Palm rings.' Marian Marsli' ontertaiiilng for Lieut. Jack Baird, son oC Lord Stonehaven. Molly Lamont one of the guests. Margot Grahame back from New York where she spent the holidays. Barton MacLane giving a dinner for his sister. , Donald Crisp on location at sea for months, taking busman's holiday by making voyage to Copenhagen for holiday. Herbert Mundin meeting Noel Madison on' set for first time since they played together in London. Alan Mowbray, freelancing, playing in fojir fllmg simultaneously. Stan Lupino states the difference between Hollywood and London Is that they eat, drink, talk and dream pix here, while in London when the day is done — the day is done. "VVendy Barrie, In the semi-finals oC Carole Lombard's • tennis tournament. John' Wood back' hunting trip. BANK Gin NIGHTS AN ANTIPODES WORRY DOYLE GRABS MASTERCRAFT .14. Bank nlig^^hts are causin bother among; the Indie exhibs following a police acypn against 'Gi?t Nights.' In the nabes the 'Bank' gag has grown Higher and higher, with' ex\\ihs attempting to outbid each other ic-eecUre biis. Public now playing the b. d. hot because -of pix screened, but to make A try for the coin offered. Ga;me has been going on Xor iome time and bitterness continues^ to grow alarmingrlyi Believed that police . will again step in and stop the methods now used. . Method generally used by the exhibs is to ask patrons to estimate tiie number of peas in a bottle. Under no consideration must'the woVd 'guess' be used, becaiJse police officials say that action co.n then be taken against gambling. By using the word 'estimate' exhibs are safe. Snider-Dean Starts Sydney, The new Shider-Dean combo begins activity as of Jan. 1, following the takeover from the Fullers in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbahe. And, at this tlpie. Sir Ben Fuller will quit his main pic interests in Australia, concentrating hereafter mainly on' his New Zf'ala.nd terrU tory. Knight says that because he has granted a lease' lo ai"-D it does not necessarily mean he is out of the show -biz for keeps. He has several moves left m> his sleeve, he in•tlmates; ■ FORDE, ELVEY, SAVILLE STAY WITH G-B Walter Forde, Miauricc Elvey and Victor Savllle, three of GauriaohtBritlsh's ace directors, plari continued afflllation with that company, althouglr Elvey eventually i.s to assume a financial interest in Twickenham Films (Julius Hagen). The three directors are not leaving G-B. Forde and Elvey are at the moment without assignment, but Savilie has the new Jessie Matthews picture. 'It's Love Again,' in work. Fordeis currently vacationing in America, and after a Hollywood once-over pla,ns trayellng through Canada. > Hdweyer, he is in constant conimunicatidn with Michael Balcon, G-B's London production head, and Arthur A. Lee, v.p. of G-B of America, on his next assignment. Balcon's recent Hollywood deals for an international exchange of talent will shortly recall both Forde and Elvey, it is presumed; Elvey, recently 6n a picture-tpplcture basis, has contracted to make another for GrB before aligning with Twickenham. He and the others were reported Jolnlnig .the new Charles M. Wooic organization In. England.' SEGAL'S AMBISH THEATRE BLDG. PROGRAM Fewer British Films in Canada In 1935, but B. 0. Grosses Up; Donat Leads AD Stars at Gate GERMAN-DUTCH HLM WINS FRENCH PRIZE Sydney, Dec. 17. SLuart F. Doyle, m.d. of Clncsound, is working on a deal whereby his company will take over Mastercraft from Raymond Longford. With clinching of the deal, Mastcr•crift will .becorne known as Cinesound No. 4. Doylo will go in as chairman: of the board! Last year Mastertraft wont on the market with a stock Issfeue of 20,000 preference sharps and 80.000 ordinary .shares at $2.50 each; 74,000 ordinary share.s were offered for public subacflptlpn, and production work was set for March, 1935. Pro.spectus stated that, unit would not. proceed to allotment until 50,000 shares had been subscribed and paid for, and in the event of 'allotment failure application money would be refunded in full. Company held an option on TO acres of land situated at Lan'o Cove, a few miles up-river from Sydney. Publio failed to subscribe as oxpeoted .and, beyond maklnff some ."ill ht headway on .studio erection In (ho hope that enough, money would ''•v-OJitually now in. nothing further has so far l/eon done. Doyle will now control CincFOiuuT, Ti.'pndi: Cinesou.nd.. Rushouttc-r'.s Bay, <'iue.«0Hnd (Victoria), Ltd.. and .\ra.ilereraft (Cines-ound No. 4). London, Jan. 7; Previous report that C'. M. Wpolf had weaned away three of G-B's four ace meggers; leaving only Alfred Hitchcock., is not so. Both Wooif and the O-B directorate deny It, althpi"?;! 'Forde, presently in the U. S., "Tiiii Elvey, re currenly between pictures. Victor Saville's next .Jessie Jlatthc^V.s filmusical is currently in work. VON PLESSEN RETURNS WITH SO,QOO FEET The Hague, Dec. 31; ^Vith SO.OOO feet of film in his trunk; 'Victor von Plessen, producer, has returned from his expedition into the Interior of Borneo. Entire footage .treatlTig of life of Dajak head-huntern in their native habitat, required eight, months actual working ti e, during whicli .200 miles of jungle was traversed. Assisted by Dr. Dalshclm and van Praig and Angst, Traut and StaudInger on camei-as, von Ple.ssen reports a very arduolis trip. Jlo.st of conveying was done, -via rpwboats tln'ough rivers and mar.shes. almost impassabl CIVIC, SYDNEY, BACK TO PIX ney, Dec.. 14. After .'•■eVora] dickers wit)i Krnesl Rolls for a legit scaspn, Ilaymarkot Thejifres, J>td.. d'>cidod to revert back. tc> a )):e policy at the (.'ivlc, .Sydnc.v. and ]i'>UKe. will reopen In two week.-. Has been dark fo\' many montlis. I'nder.'iloud pix v.ill be it.'sod fill' tlie Mf-'. London, Jan. Arthur Segal, connected with tlie Parimount Astoria chain of ther atres in .England, has signed a coritract with Union Cinemas to build several big de liixers for the ch&ln throughout .the cotintrj'. Deal calls for the .erection of houses with capacities of 2,000-3,000. Policy will be to present stage shows In the same manner as Segal introduced In the London Astprias, which he built. Fred Bernhard, managing director of Union during the past few months, has been building and purchasing houses on all sides, and has 47 cinemas' now in construction, which will give his circuit a total of over 200 theatres. Current deal embraces the Mancunian and Reed circuits. Arthur Reed, pf the latter, will become associated with Union Cinemas, assuming an olficiai post, unnamed as yet. Mexican Producers Urge Gov t Aid for American Distribs Mexico City, Jan. ,Group> of Mexlean pic producers. Including Alberto Ricardo Pani, president of the Cinematograflca Latino Americano, S. A., has asked the ministry of finance to use its offices toward bringing about an cady settlement of the strike against the eight major American distributors here. Native producers told the ministry that biz of cinenias in this country has fallen off 50% since imports of top grade American pics were shut oft by the strike, which has lasted since Sept. 27, and that while the Mexican industry, is making progress, it is also being' hurt in the long run. Producers assert that Mexican pic makers must still continue under the wing of stellar American pic. cinemas must have these, foreign attractions In order to.lure the crowds to witness the horiiie-mades. HAK SETTLEMENT APPROVED BY COURT Paris, Dec 29, Reversing the lower coiirt; Court of Appeals has . confirmed a settle ment In the bankruptcy of Etab lisscmcnts Jacques Halk, by which 30% of the liabilities are to be paid over a .l5-year period, or 2% a year. On protest by creditors, including tCodak for raw film furnished, and several laboratories for negatives and prints, the Commerce Tribunal had refused to approve thi.s Hr-ttlement, but Court of Apppal.s says il'.s oke. Pariii,' Dec. 'Kerniesse Heroiqiie' ('Heroic Cai-nival'), Tobis production meggcd by Jacques Feyder, was awarded the Grand Prix of French cinema, despite the fact thiat the producing firm is German -Dutch, directpr Belgian, cameraman American, /and writer Belgian. Runner-up was, 'Vcille d'Armes' ('Armed Watch'), film glprifying the French navy, with less tlian half the votes garnered by the Tobis spectacle. 'Crime and Punishment' and 'Deuxleme Bureau' ('Secret Service') got a few votes each. Grand Prix Is awarded bv a jury under ofliclal ausplpes of the Ministry of National Education and Fine Arts. U. S. ATTACKS IN PARIS Paris, Dec. 29. Attacks on American pictures continue to bo made In hearings before, the National Ecpriomtc Commission, whicii Is getting ready to submit a .fiini reform law for presentation to the Chamijre of Deputies. Arguments are tliat Yank competition is unfair because films arrive with' the negative cost already written off and HhPrcfpre can be sold cheaply. Even If this were so, cost of dubbing and . preparing for the market, including all taxeis. brings the local Investment In U. S. pix nearly up to the cost level pf average French production. .. ' Also contendfed that Paris houses specializing In English language versions take a big hunk of the coin on which the French trade should depend. This ' argument Is particularly strange In view 6t the fact that real money trade here has to be done In French versions, and Engllish specialized houses pnl;^ gross $1,660,000 a year, at the most. Mario Roustan, minister of national education, is reported stUl trying to get the Cabinet to back the essence of the defeated decree laws as a bill before parliament. B.ut cabinet, at the moment, Is too busy with more important affair.-?. U. S. Pix Back in Canton After Three Months of Censor Fee Battle Shanghai, Dec, 17. (-antPn thieatre pwncr.s arid American distributors are at peace again, acording to word from! Norman Wcitwood (Unlvcr.sal) and Leon Britton (RKO). In September' the Canton local censor board slapped a special fee on Paramount and subscJquently on ah pics, ir. S. distrlbutor.s claimed the Nanking (capital) censorship fee covers all China and refu.sed to pay. Canton theatro.s refused to pay, al.so, resulting In a deadlock. For three month.s there wi^re no first-run U. S. ptcs in Canton. Tljpatrcs have ' now capitulated and will pay the local fee lliemsplve«, feeling that tliey must havf1' S. product. were lOS.";, total annual higher than -in 1934, when a .considerably greater percentage of Ehgllsn films were O.K.'d by Canadian distributors. Expla,natI6n of this Is that the CanadI n distributors, while releasing fewer Bi'itlsh pictures, have been skimmirip the cinematic cream and offering exhibitors; only thbs films which have international appeal, "While these films shbwed a numerical decrease, the 1935 grosses of the Canadardlstribiited pictures showed a high box-o ce gain: iiecause (1) Canadian dlstributprs avoided mediocre product and refused to handle films which, they believed, would, not beHeflt the exhibitors; and (2) more Canadian ex;hlbltors were signing contracts for British pictures on box-ofllce potentialities alonCr iProsent set-up has Regdl Films, a subsidiary of Famous Players Ca* nadian, distributing Gaumont-British; Gainsborough,. London Fllm.-j arid British Lion; Emplrie Fllrins handtin.g ritlsh International PIcr tures. Twickenham Productions, Associated Tallving Pictures and Tbeplltz; United Artists distributing British & Dominions. Action Films Judging from the 1935 fop-grossers in Canada, film-goers . In this cpuntry want actldn-plctures. Films which made best money records in Canada were '39 Steps' (GB), 'Scarlet Pimpernel' (tF)i 'Trans-Atlantic 'Tunnel' ), .'Drake of iSngr land' (BIP), 'Sanders of the River' (LF) and 'Abdul the Damned* (BIP). ' Report of the Department of Overseas Trade, just released, reveals that, during the pa^t year, 65 British pictures were releajied In Canada as ajsalnst SO the presedlhg year, '\yith several hit pictures still playing, the estimate of the Overseas Trade ComnileBloner places the Canadian film mitrlcet Increase at 25% ovfer the preceding year. Noticeable Ip 1935 ivas'. the exploitation done in CjEinada for British films. This include^l intensive campallgns bymcans of national advertising and. pitbUcIty, raidio dramatizations, bill-boafde, \yindpwdiiiiplays, commcrcl^.1 tierups and an apparent In with film folvimnlsts. Stars Top grosser in Canada of any British film to date Js '39 Steps' (GB). This was preceded by a tremendous advance build-up which followed appointment of tlie author, John Buchan, luter Lord Tweedsmulr, as Governor-General of Canada. Expldlta.ti6n ' conimcnced as soon as Twecdsmuir was named to the ofllce and an a(idlencc-cxpcctancy was created jveeks before hia arrival on Canadian soil. Robert Donat Is definitely the top box-'OITIce star, cither Hollywood or British, in Canada, Oracle Fields is in liie, peculiar situation of being a flop In the East arid a hold-over name in the' West, Richard Taubet Is a favorite with the hl-hats, as Is Fritz Kortner, and Matheson Lang has a following because hp used to stfli' in Canadian legit some , years agp. ArllHs, of course, Is tops, and other Canadian favprltcs Include Madeleine (Jarroll, JesHlc Matthews and . Grele Natzler, Jose Bohr in H'woiocl Iloll.vwodd, .'/an, 7. Jose Bolir, producer • of Spanl.ih pictures In Mexico, accompanied ))y Mrs. Bol^i are here for first sliowIng of his latest film, 'Luponinl.* Also discussing deal for dlstiii.utiori of his pix In tli** staffs. 1 Brit Pix Up in China Slianxhai, i>.-jf. Tli'j BrltLsii arc bogluiii.ng to makr; a bid for the Sliangli.-il nun kft, with Korecsnlng this week of "M Stop,';,' (C'-B).'. Agfiuiles are now In a posl.ion 1" handle London output dlrofl. i.i.l'. and Cauriiont, Brltl.sli Irivc loc-Jl rcprcf;eiuatlvfr<. Britl.sh population of. JO.'ifMi iic;-.H twlf'fi that of AmerlV'fiii. G-B UPS 1936-37 SKED TO 24 PIX Loiidof.; 7, It! /id'" will) ;ai IntTcasodprodurtldh fclif.-'liilr' III 24 piduros for I l!^■!')'-7. 0;iiiin()jM-BrilI.sh will c.\I pai'd Us policy of Importing Atnerlcan dirfffor;, TIi?( 24 pl.'c In eight :i:>oy(: .l)\f i)i-f"j"j'it scaspn|S sked.. Cli.Trjo.^ I'. rCMinck) RIe.snor i ;drfa(ly li'Tc with picture assigniiKiiis f( 1' ('fclly Courtneidgc and I .Ui'-ii KuIJi'Tt'. peals a r<> reported j r<.i r:;i'inl VV;il;ih and William IC. 1 M'i-.'. i. .i, as \v"ll, to comf over 1 ' .r.