Variety (Dec 1946)

^ednesia y, Deccm1>er 4, 1946 PICTURES B EXHIBS BALK AT SLIDING % DEAI5 British hak. Spfit m Qpota Law, ifkxstm Says; Preps Inti Council British film producers are split-t nhi the question of future film, ■fluotas, according to Eric Johnston, President of the Motion Picture Assn but seemed most receptive to the 'proposed international film council Johnston, who arrived Siturday (30) on the S.S. Amei:ica after a five-week stay in England, said that no decision will be reached on a quota ruling until some time early i" ^'^e summer of 1947, when he expects to return to Great Britain and remain until the ques- tioii is. settled. ■ !' doncerning t!ie international film council, the MPA head Said that methods ol its operation ■ and future possihilities are being studied by Sir Henry Freiich,: general manager o£ the British Motion Picture Pro- ducers Assn.,- and Faye Allport, rep- resenting U. S. producers. Two ex- jperts will have their report ready Within the next eight weeks, John- ston said. He explained that the purpose of the council will be to engender freer exchange of films between nations by doing, away with , existing barriers and the ellmina- * tiOji of the problems such as title registration. "This limitation on pictures that just went into effect 'in Portugal is the kind of thing we'd like to see stopped by all na- j tions," Johnston said. "I'm a firm believer in the motion picture as a means of information and I think free exchange of films will lead (Continued on page 21-) i Plans as Pact Bonus Hollywood, Dec. 3. New form of "bonus" was a plane given by a major studio to renew one of its top male stars. ' The actoF wanted a Iwo-engine job and the studio put $43,000 on the line as inducement to consummate the contract. HUGHES HAS TODETTA' BACK TO PRODUCTION ; Hollywood, Dec 3. Howard Hughes sent his "Ven- detta" back into work on the Gold* wyn lot with a new budget of ap- proximately $1,5Q0;000 and Stuart Heisler taking over as producer-di- rector. Preston Sturges loft that post last Oct. 29 after spending more than $1,000,000 on his film version of the Prosper Merimee novel, but 6nly a small portion of his footage will be retained. Max Ophuls, director on the Sturges production, stepped aside after a few days of filming and denies any responsibility for the dif- ficulties that followed. Most of the original cast is retained in the sec- ond version. It includes Faith Domergue, Hillary Brooke, Nigel Bruce and Gajrge Dolenz. Absent from the lineup is J. Carrol Naish, who withdrew to play in "The Fugi- tive" for Argosy. British Film Biz Favors An Int'l Council, SezCarr British film industry favors Kric Johnston's proposal for an inter- national film council but feels that the first steps toward formation of .such an organization must come from the American industryj ac- cording to E. T. ("Teddy'^) Garr, joint managing director of General Film Distributors, J, Arthur Rank's master distrib company: Johnston created an excellent: impression on the British during his recent trip to England, Carr said, and the British are all set to follow through on his proposal. , Rank!s distrib chief arrived in New York last Wednesday (27) aboard the Queen Elizabeth. He left tor the Coast'Friday (29) night for huddles with Nate Blumberg, Leo Spitz and William Goetz of Univer- ,sal-International and with Bryan Foy and Arthur Krim of the Ameri- can Eagle-Lion company. His wife and two children arrive on the next trip of the Queen Bess and will re- main in this country until early in January. Carr, who supervises dis- tribution in the United Kingdom of all Rank and U-I product, was for- merly United Artists' managing di- rector in England. Various Rank production outfits will turn out between 25 and 30 pix this year, Carr said, adding he hoped to have all of tijem released in the (Continued on page 24) Eagli le-Lion's Sales Meets As Co. Gets All Set to Go Eagle-Lion, girding for its kick- off on pix distribution set fol- Jan. 1, , has. launched a series of sales meets ?vith the first completed ovct»thG past weekend in New York. Follow- ups will be in Los Angeles, Dec. 7-8; Dallas, Dec. 11-12; and Chicago, Dec. 14-15. E-L h.o. exocs Alfred W. Scnwalberg, veepee and general sales manager; Max Youngstein, chief flack; and Robert J. Benjamin, prez of J. Arthur Rank organization, stratoline the Coast tomorrow (Thurs.) as the first stop in their confab itinerary. ' ;. ;' Arthur L. Krim, E-L prexy, now In Hollywood, will join the trio for the meets which will sat company's sales policy. Quartet expect to return to Wew York Dec. 16. First of the lew company's releases will be "It's a Joke, Son!" E-L now has four films In the can ?na seven more lined up for shoot- 'ng next year. In the latter group We Repeat Performance" with Joan i-esiie; "Prelude to Night" with Louis wayward; Louis Bromfield's "Ken- ny ; Vera Caspery's "Out of the "tie ; Agatha Christie's "Love from Stranger"; Peggy Goodman's Uemcntine"; and "Prince Valiant," nimization of a King features comic • strip. ■ Four, already completed are "It'.s " JOke, Son!," Rank's "Bedelia" and ihe Adventuress,", and "Amy '-ernes Across." U.S. Pix Yens to Donate Millions of Chinese Yen The U. S. motion picture industry has been trying for more than a nionth, it has been learned, to give away millions of dollars—and it Can't get permission. Catch is. that the dollars are Chinese and may not be talcen out of China In the mean- time, in the face of the extreme in- llaLion in tijat country, millions of additional dollars are piling -up each week. Film industry, as a result, is seek- ing permission, through the Motion Picture As.sn,, to make a large dona- ,;i,0H of the .coin to the. Chinese Mass Education Movement, Inasmuch as file funds can't be removed anyway and there's little prospect that they'll ever be exportable, the American companies feel that better use might be made of the exehange^than mere- ly allowing it to amass'in Chinese banks. Following the decision to give the money away, the CMEM was cpn- L^cted . and naturally . indicated - it woiild be greatly pleased to expend ihe coin to improve,, via education, the situation of the Chinese masses. Application Was then made by Gov. Carl E. Milliken, secretary of the MPA in cliarge of international af- fairs, to the Chinese government .to be allowed to transfer the funds. No reply has been received as yet. Golden, Dembow Split Hollywood, Dee. 3. Edward Golden is severing con- riections with Sam Dembow. Jr., in the Golden Pictures Corp.i and Will organize a new company, with his son, Robert, handling production Wliile lie takes care bf distribution and financial problems,- . : Dembow has been connected with several Golden productions released I through RKO and United Artists. IT'S NECESSIIR! Mounting revolt of exhibs against the majors' use of a sliding scale deal for percentage pix has reached a point in the last several months where some indie exhibs have flatly refused to book certain top pictures, even though these films ,may have brolcen records in their key city first runs. Chief squawic .of,the, ex- hibs is that, even though they're tak- ing in more dollars than ever at the boxoffice, the present sliding scale arrangements cut them oft from what they consider should be, their proportionate share of the earnings. Sliding scale would be okay; ex- hibs aver, if the increased percent- age started at the first dollar above the base percentage figure. In re- cent ■ years, ■ however, the majors have brought into play the deal whereby a picture is sold at a cer- tain percentage if a film grosses a certain amount. If the gross exceeds that amount, however, the percent- age is upped and the new take for the distrib starts at the first dollar taken in at the b.o. One indie exhib, for example, had tried to book Paramount's "Blue Skies" but turned down the film completely when told he could have it only on the above terms, Exhib was offered the picture at a straight 40% on everything up to $2,000. For every 4% above $2,000 that the film grossed, however, the distrib's take was up to 1% accordingly, but with the terms starting back from the first dollar, not from $2,080, which would be the first 4% jump. If "Skies" grossed $2,000, Conse- quently, the exhib's take would be $1,200, while Par would get 40%', or $800. ir the film earned 4% more, or $2,080, the exhib would get $1.,- 227.20, while Par would take 41%, or $852.80, At the next 4% jump ($2,160), the exiiib, would get $1,- 252,80- and Par would get 42%, or (Continued on page 13) RANK'S 'WICKED LADY' AT RENTALS UP TO m Rentals up to 50% will be sought for "Wicked . Lady," first Universal release of its .T. Arthur Rank pix, and for the British films that follow it in the U. S, market, William J; Heineman, - sales chief of U's Rank division, said this week prior to en- training for the division's Chicago ■sales " meet. Policy set for Rank's flli-ns will call for a sliding scale on grosses up to the half-century mark similar to United Artists terms for "Caesar and Cleopatra." Sales ex- ecs will be told, Heineman added, that terms from exhibs on Briti.sh films will be no less than what the theatremeri have been paying for equivalent American product. U has a half-dozen Technicolor prints of "Stairway to Heaven" from England and the film, which was originally slated to lead off the Rank array in October, may be roadshown as the best way of pre-selling it, according to Heineman. Decision will be made before the opening of the Chicago meet tomorrow (Thur.s- day). Should roadshowing get the nod, pic would be played in pnly a half-dozen spots. . Following close of Chi- confabs Saturday (7), Heineman pushes off for the Coast for studio huddles. Tallulah Bankhead Claude Binyon Carl Brisson Kay Kyser . rchiinitc* breexily about Show Business Antecedents ■ in-- . 41.11 Anniversary NnmWr Soon Due Connors Asks Double Playing Thne Of Previous Long Run for 'Razor 60% for 'Razor' In line with the demands by :20th-Fox that ''Razor's Edge" be guaranteed double playing time in air situations, the company is also seel^ing a straight 60% deal for aU bookings: of the film. ■: Sxhibs are squawking about the terms but claim they're forced to buy, since the product , shortage has transformed the in- dustry into a seller's market ' over which they have no con^ trol. UA Wants Rental Distrib Increase FromStromberg With his five-year releasing pact with United Artists winding up next May, producer Hunt Stromberg has been informed that a renewal of the contract will require a considerable boost in terms. Stfomberg has a "most f&vored nations" clause, en- titling him to distribution at 25% for the first $800,000 in rentals and 10% after that. New deal will be on a straight 25% basis, with foreign, as it is now, at varying percentages according to territory. New' terms are similar to those UA is getting from all producers as old contracts expire. "Most favored" clause was given as an inducement when UA was low on product, but is no longer considered necessary or profitable, Stromberg, as with the rest of UAers who had "most fa- vored" deals. Is expected to continue with the company under the boosted terms. Stromberg has two pix 'to: deliver on the old contract. They are "Dis- honored Lady," starring Hedy La- marr, now editing, and "Personal Column," starring Lucille Ball and George Sanders, wwhich is presently j before the cameras. His "Strange i Woman;" row in release, is doing very strong business; In one of the most optimistic steps yet taken to stimulate longer runs for a picture, 20th-Fox has decided that each contract on "Razor's Edge" must,include as a positive guarantee the provision that the theatre accept the film for double the playing time of the -previous top long-run -film in each house. Sectional sales, district and branch managers are; to be personally' re- sponsible for all bookings of "Edge " with each deal to be negotiated per- sonally, by the manager's representa- tive in each territory. All deals will finally have to be okayed personally by Tom J. Connors, 20th veepee over sales. Special contract forms for sale of ''Edge" were distributed to ' the 20th sectional and branch man- agers at last week's homeoft'ice sales .meet.;. To help the Individual exhibs se- cure tire maximum amount of play- ing time, the fllm_ is to be given the same type exploitation sendolf In each territory that it received be- fore its pre-release opening at the Rox.y, N.Y., on Nov.. 19. Following through to the local situations, 20lh plans to back the film with a top publicity campaign wherever it plays, meanwhile continuing its na- tional ad campaign via newspapers, magazines and radio in an effort to reach the home of every potential ticket buyer. Twentieth ad-publicity depart- ment, under direction of Charlie (Continued on page 24) Walter Lantz's Shift From U to UA Release Walter Lantz, who has been re- leasing cartoon shorts via Univer.sal since 1928. switches distribution to United Artists early nejJt year. UA board last Friday (29) okayed a pact with the Lantz comedy foundry for 11 of the cartoons ■"•year;.- That gives the company a heavy parcel of briefies, since it has also contracted for a series of musical-seenics and a group of documentary-type subjects by John Grierson. Lantz has six more cartoons to de- liver to U under his ticket with that studio. He'll have them ready in the first few months of 1947. His de- parture as'*a bellwether at U is. one of many changes going on as a re- sult ot the outfit's recent merger with International. _ 'RAZOR' WOULD CUf ITSELF MORE RECORDS With a record for the largest gross ever chalked up by any picture al- ready under its belt as result of last week's unprecedented $165,000 take^ "Razor's Edge" appeared last (Tues- day) night as though it would top even that mark in its second week at the Roxy, N. Y. Roxy boxoffice needed ? 13,600 on Monday (2) and another $14,600 yes- terday (Tuesday) to outgross last week. Monday's figure fell slightly under that amount because of the unheralded cold wave that fell sud- denly on New York. With warmer weather yesterday, however, the Roxy expected to mak^, up the dif- ference and to chalk up at least $168,000 for the second week of the ■film's run, : Roxy management, along with the 20th-yox-publicity office, is now training its guns on a record that will top all records during Christ- inas week. Film is slated for general release throughout the country on Christmas Day and a boff week at the Rox.y at that time would aid considerably in boosting ",Edge" at its other forthcoming first run situa. tions, ' Film Appeal Launched Hollywood, Dec, 3. Motion, picture industry launched its 1947 Annual Appeal campaign with two dinners attended by volun- teer, workers frpm the .Paramount and Walt Disney studios. M. C. Levee, dhairman of the drive, was the principal speaker at the Paramount meeting. Edward Arnold and Regis Toomey addressed the Disney gathering. . Johnston's Reason For MPA Annual Meet in D.C. Reports that film company execs have been squawking over the fact that the Dec. 12 annual meeting of the Motion Picture Assn. was set by Eric Johnston fd.r Washington, and not New York, were denied by Carl Milliken, MPA- exec secretary.:,,: MPA annual meetings, hertofore have been held only in N. Y., but the current one was transferred to the nation's capital because Johnston wanted film toppers to see the . or» ganization's new hfeadquarters there. RAMSAY JOINS GREENTHAl Clark Ramsay, Univer.sal's adver- tising manager, has been named vee- I pee of the newly formed Motiroe ' Greenthal Co., ad agency. Ramsay will handle all Coast contacts as head of the company's Los Angelei office, now set for early opening. Agency specializes in film accounts with Univoi-sal-International and J. Arthur Rank organization as top clients. Starr Leaves Metro Holly wood, Dec. 3. Irving Starr, 18 months on the- Metro lot, obtained a'^release from' his producer contract and will go in for independent production. It was Starr's second departure from the Culver City studio, In the interim he functioned for two' years as a producer at 20th-Fox. His la.st picture at Metro was "The Cock- eypd Miracle."