Variety (Dec 1946)

•TAJRIKXT'B' LONDON OWTXCM 17 British Films Withdrawn From Fix Houses in Egypt After Bomb Threat Cairo, Nov. 26. + Briliiih pictures are no longer be- ing shown . in Egyptian theatres, decision not to exhibit them having been in efloct for several weeks but just now admitted as a set policy. Fix are off screens voluntarily due to thi-eats . ol mobs to bomb any hou.se slio\\'iiif{ them. Threat stems from the political situation and is ofl:.slioot of rivalry existing between Arabis and Jews in Palestine;' It's the first real instance where political activity has crippled an en- tire seclion of the motion picture industry in a whole country. Be- cause of this antirBritish campaign iiv Esypt. outlook for English pic-- ■ tures ill the Middle East currently is dismal. This is in <Uroct contrast to the satisfactory business being done by Great Britain's screen product el.sfjwhere. Pecliliur factor in this self-imposed ban on .shovvin,!? British-mades in Eii'ypt in tliat Palestine, from which tlie boycott .ftem.s, is showing Briti.sh pictures without any restrictions and doing okay biz. ROME COPS NAB FORGER ON 3 U. S. PLAY RIGHTS Rome, Dec, 1. Rome police authorities have un- earthed'a iioat case of forgery per- tainiiiK to. the theatre. A certain Laii/.etta who claimed to be the Italian representative of the Drama- tisls Play Service, had sold rights of "The Voice of the Turtle," "Life With Father" and "Glass Menagerie" to a well-known Italian actor, Paolo Stoppa, on the strength of a con- tract which ho had forged. He had already cashed in several hviivdrcd thousand lire advances' for the sale of such rights before the police authorities were warned of his scheme by Fabio Cohen, repre- sentative in this coinitry for the American Society of Authors' Rep- resentatives. Lanzetta has confessed his crime and will be tried for fraud. He forged tl\e signatures of John Van Driiten, Monica McGall, Bar- rett Clark and others. All Italian newspapers gave tlie yarn big coverage. UaUans to Do 2 V. S. Hits Two important American produc* tions adapted for the Italiai\ tlieatre will soon open in Rome and Milan, respectively. "Glass Menagerie," by Tennessee Williartis, will be pre- sented at Rome's Teatro Eliseo Dec. 10. A. Segre translated the original. The Morclli-Etoppa company will produce. Elsa Shelley's "Pick-Up Girl" will be presented at the Nuovo theatre in Milan Dec. 16. The producing com- pany is Adani-Ruggeri, Luciani and Rosada made the translation. The coyprights for both plays wese sold for Italy by Fablo Cohen, of the American Society of Authors' Representatives. Reds Query Budapest Editors on Russ Films Budapest, Nov. 27. ■ Local Soviet pix disti-ibution execs liave queried Budapest editors and critics for a frank criticism of Russ pix and comment on why they haven't gone well, '' particularly against few Hollywood'titles, old and new available here since the war. Those brave enough to comment in print on the queries berated tlie Kremlinites for the heavy propa- ganda load they always lay atop what entertainment their releases may contain. Local Sovexportfilm offices have increasingly large staff and plan big drive to increase Russki celluloid popularity in Hun- gary. Bleak Picture Seen On Dutch House Expansion; Film Production Slow Amsterdam. Nov. 26. There is smaU hope for theatre expansion in Holland for some time to come because even, renovations ar<i limited. Only new theatre change was opening of the liriterion theatre here by students of Amster- dam Univ. Celebration of the 25th a nniversjiry- of Tuschinski theatre re- cently recalled the la<-'s of Holland's famed showman, Abraham Tus- chinski, who with his two brothers died during the Nazi ^error regime in Poland. Dutch film production continues unimportant now mainly because facilities are so bad. The Barnstijn Studios near the Hague was razed by tlie heavy bombardment of the war while Cinetone Studios near here was looted by the Germans in 1944 when they felt all wa.^ lost. Attempts by several producers to turn out features in imi>rovised studios have been unsuccessful. Even production ot documentaries now is viewed as so much wasted govern mcnt money. Club des Cinq Owners Take Over Ambassadeurs FINNISH FILM CRITICS GIVE OUT 3USS1 OSCARS Helsinki, Dec. 4. Finnish films for the past year have been of such poor quality that no awards for the best picture or best direction were made in recent presentations of Oscars by the Fin- nish Film Critics Assn. Oscars, known here as "Jussi," were con- flued to best thesping performances and lensing, save for one short sub- .iect award,, . Best actress was Regina Linnan- heimo for her work in "Oroligt Blod" ("Restless Blood"); best actor, Tauno Palo for "Menneisyden Var- :io" ("Shadow from the Past"): best second femme actress, Rauha Ren- tola for "Fa.stman Att Hyra" ("Boy- friend for Hire"'): best second actor, Laase Poysti for his work in the OIK Suominen serials; best Iftnsing, French cameraman Marius Raichi on 'En Ole Kreivitar" (' Countess for a Night"), while Lad.v Brita Wrode drew an Oscar for lier short. "The Paris, Dec. 6. Operator.s of "Club des Cinq." a ,„ . , _ • • group of five war veterans headed , ^ays Ar ound Rovamemi by Maurice Blainis and Jean LecoUe, I will fry their hand at running Les Ambassadeurs, which Clifford L. Fischer closed in November. They are getting the place from him on a straight rental, with option to buy. They plan opening Dec. 20; with a dinner, dance and entertainers policy; switching Edith Piaf and the niiie Companions de la Chanson cur- rently at their Club des Cinq. They expect restrictions to ease up suf- ficiently to permit them to use •nough electricity to keep the place heated at night time. ^ Piaf and the nine Companions have been booked by Fischer for America aiid are sailing in Febru- ary. While in Paris and for 'William Morri.'i. account, Fischer pacted Lucienne Boyer for four weeks at Cafe Society Uptown, opening Feb. 10. Miss Boyer will sail Jan. 10. 'Poi'gy & Bess' in Vienna ^ Vienna, Nov. li-. tjreorgc Gershwin's opera, "PorA.\ French Set Up Equipment Pix Co. in Baden-Baden The French are makini? use of German knowhow to manufacture picture equipment in the French zone of occupied Germany. They hav6 promoted a French company. International Film AUianz "Technik, with Germans holding a niinority interest. Works are in Baden-Baden, • Besides projection room sundries, I he works are also turning put, pre- cision equipment, scheduling a flrst year production of BO mikes and 2.400 photo else trio cells. Herbert Smith Head of Kcith-PrpWf* ft Co. (bi9g*st liektt aqcnti in Londbn) obtervci '^London Legit B.O. Again Sets Record for 1946" an •direrlal ftatHrc of rhc forthcoming 41st A nniversnry of P^niETY Number MOSS 30TH-FOX EIRE MGR. Dublin. Deo..3. Maurice Moss has been appointed Dublin manager for 20th-Fox, suc- ceeding Leslie Talbot, who is moyhis lo the organization's ■London tvcad- ciiiartcrs. . ; ■; F; Pattlnson, director of sale.-i. and Be.<!.!:." will be produced h(>re 1 arranged a party to introduce him earlv ncxi c, ,,.i„g_ ij-jji, exhibitors and to honor the WjiiiH, J,; .(.1 at Volksopera under viMl of Olto W. BoUe, managing director Walter Firner. | director, to Dublin. North Africa Facing Big Product Shortage DuetoU.S.-FrenchPact A serious shortage of screen prod- uct is developing in North Africa, according to word received by N. Y. homeoffice."j. Thi.s shortage stems from the U. S.-French pact, which upsets quarterly quota.? and is ap- plicable to North Africa as well as France. Agreement gives French pictures a certain amount of screen playing time, thereby limiting the niumbe* of U. S, films available to North African exhibitors. In North Africa it's working out as a hardship to exhibs who are demanding more American ."aerials, westerns and action pictures than' alloted under this pact. : Because of this, situation, there is. a concerted move on to set up a separate arrangement for North Africa that would give exhibs more leeway in picking out needed prod- uct. Virtually no serials or action films are coming from French pro- ducers, and of course no westerns. Small Concern Over Socialists Plan To Nationalize Part of Brit. Pix Biz Jane Russell Publicity Pays Off in London London, Nov. 30. Lavl.sh publicity showoi'ed upon Jane Russell by the press prior to the opening'. of "The Outlaw" has eau.sed United Artists' London Pa- vilion, where pic opened Nov. 29, to bo besieged since the opening. But the London county council public. control committee is taking a more than ordinary interest in' the colored poster of the actress which is erected above the entrance of the theatre, pondering action. Poster, which is 60 feet long by 30 feet high, reveals the whole fig- ure of Miss Russell i reclining posi- tion, and to make it more conspic- uous has been illuminated by- hun- dreds of eledtric lights. Beef That Border Towns Cop Mex. Tourist Coin Mexico City, Dec . 5. Biggest U. S. tourist biz for Mex- ico doesn't come hei-e at all, but is largely border trade according to the Confederation of Chambers of Commerce. Tourists, spending from a few hours to a few day.s in Mex- ico, are good for $45,000,000 a year, of which Tia.iuajia, Mexicali and Ensenada. on the Califoi'nia line, cop $16,000,000. Confederation esti- mates this border biz at 60% of all U. S. visitors to Mexico and thinks it would be better biz to induce them to come here and to other big towns that are a'day or two from the border. • Government has budgeted $400,- 000 for tourist publicity, foreign and national, in 1847, Understood this low budget was based on belief that Mexico already gets plenty free ad- vertising, , ■ : . Swede OK for 'Gilda,' Tears' Stockholm, Nov, 28, Latest U, S, films to arrive here are Columbia's "Gilda" and Metro's "The Green Years." Both were praised by the critics. "Gilda"' preemed at the Royal, owned by the Sandrew interests, while "Years'" debuted at the Rigo- letto. Current London Shows London, Dec. 10. "And No Birds Sins," Aldwych. "Clutlerbuck," Wyndham. "Flfty-Fifty," Strand. "Follow the Girls," Majesty's, "Fools Rush In," Fortune. "Grace ot God," St. James. "Grand National Niffhl," Apollo. "Guinea Pig," Criterion. "Mere Comes the Boys;" Saville, "Hieh Time," Palladium. "Honeymoon," York's. "Lady Frederick," Savoy. "Message for Margaret," Duchess. "Nltht Bttd Liagt;hter;":.Co1iseuro.: "No Boom ml IHin,'* Winter Garden. "Our Betters," Playhouse. "Perchance to Dream," Hipp. "Piccadilly Hayride," Wale.s. "Pick-Up Girl." Casino. "Polterffeist." VaudevMJe. \ "Shephard Show," Princes. "Shop Sly Corner," St, Martins. "Skin of Teeth,'' Piccadilly. "Song' ol Norway,", Palace. "Sweetheart Mine," Vic Palace. "Sweetest and liOwest," Ambass. "The Gleam," Globe. "Under the Cioiinter," Phoenix, "Windermere's Fan," Haymarket. '•■Wintlslow Boy," Lyric. "Worm'.* View," Whitehall, Possibility of German Dubbing of U.S. Product Heats Viennese to Boil . Vienna, Nov. 26. Local papers have expressed con- cern over reports in Austrian fan mags that Mopex would take over ISB Films Austrian distribution monopoly. Point that bothers writers is statement that this will mean synchronization in Berlin of ' all American product. Austrian commentators point out this won't satisfy native customers who distinctly resent German ac- cents on their sound tracks. Official U. S. circles have no information as yet that either phase of those re- ports is true. Interesting fact is quick and premature resentment of Austrians against feared incursion of German culture in local theatres. "Neues Oesterreich," influential Viennese party paper, says "it is to be feared that the Austrian public will again be given cause for annoy- ance. Austrians will not listen to dialog which, after seven years of National Socialism, will spoil every story. If American films cannot be .synchronized in Vienna it would be more advantageous if they were left in their original language and pre- sented with German subtitles." Soviets were first sufllcrers from Austrian dislike for "piefke" (Prus- sian) accents. Russian pix shown hero soon after liberation were hissed and hooted for this reason. In recent press releases during Soviet Film Fe.stival Sovexportfllm bosses promised no repetition of this "cultural mistake." Move by a subcommittee of So- cialist members of the British Parlia- ment to have the Briti.sh govern- ment nationalize a part of the Eng- ' lish film industry: isn't causing too ■ much worry among American film toppers. Latter look on the move as ' an abortive step by the radical left- wing party in Parliament, pointing that it's an extreme view and there- fore a minority one which will probably die a-boi-ning. Subcotfimittee last week sent a re- port to Sir Stafford Cripps, head of the Board of Trade, recommending compulsory government acquisition of 500 British theatres, mostly from. . ma.ior circuits, to form a govern- ment-owned and controlled renting, organization. Government would also handle indie British pix and acquire studio to encourage and fa- cilitate indie production. What caused the greatest stir in the American industry was the fur- ther recommendation that these theatres always give preference to showing British films. It was sug- gested that the theatres be.split into two groups of 2,'50 each to comtjctc directly with Odeon, ABC and Gau- mont-British. three largest British Powell (Archer) in Peru Production Locale Hunt Lima, Peru, Dec. 6. Micliael Powell, British film pro- ducer who recently arrived here from points north—New York, New Orleans, Mexico City and Panama—. is visiting the ancient Inca ruins at Cuzco, the jungle interior region and the industrial areas nearer the coast during a month's stay in Peru, sur- veying future film locales. Powell is partner with Emeric Pressburger in the Archers film pro- ducing company, with headquarters in London, Both men have been touring countries in Europe and the two continents of the western hemis- phere. An Archer unit has just completed production of "Green Days and Blue Days" in Brazil with Sabu and the Brazilian actress Bibi Ferreira.. Studio work starts in Jan- uary at Pinewood Studios near London. Powell is scheduled to leave Peru, Dec. 16. Duals Exiting Aussie Sydney, Nov, 28. With practically every major U.. S. distrib in thiS: area declaring there'll be no more B's going on their pro- duction floors in- the future, trade is wondering what'U happen to the dual bill set-up here. (Most every Aussie film house, big and small, with counle of exceptions, plays dual billis.) ' There's possibility • ot the ace houses coming back to stage shows, but this policy would be hopeless out ill the nabps and stix where dual bills have always been the vogue. MP's Brushoff Iiondon,: Dec. 10. Dr. Eric Fletcher, MP and director of the Associated Britisli Picture Corp., told VAiuEry re- garding the British move that the "committee has 'no ofiicial status and neither was it .unani- mous." ■ : Fletcher declared he doesn't favor the recommendation and , regards the proposals as un- desirable and impractical. He personally believes the proposals are unlikely to meet -with gov- ernment approval. circuits. Committeer also reconii- mended that experienced film execs be appointed by the government to operate the theatres, with the execs being directly responsible to a .spe- cially-formed government depart- ment. Spokesmen for the Motion Picture Assn. of America said the recom- mendation was a refutation of the proposals laid before the Board of Trade by MPA proxy Erie Johnston during his recent trip to England. Johnston' suggested that wider dis- tribution of BrltLsh pix in the U. 3. would be the best alternative to re- enactment of the British quota law and cautioned the Britishers that any restrictions fnstituted by them would probably be- answered by American restrictions imposed on British ex- ports. British legislators to whom John- . ston spoke, however, apparently fa- vored his proposals, which leads the MPA to believe that Parliament will turn dowp the Socialist recommen- dation. It was pointed out that since the party in power today is a labor government, it might conceivably attempt in the long run to national^ alize the film industry. Government, however, is believed to'have no im- mediate intention of doing so since it still has so far to go in building up the industry and securing world- wide distribution, for its pi-oduct. In line with the Socialist proposal, it was recalled that Johnston had hailed the passage of the U. S. loan to Britain last July 15 as "one of the most advanced steps taken thus far to ensure a peaceful and prosperous postwar trade." Loan agreement said nothing about, restrictions on U. S, film imports into England but com- pelled the British to lift all restric- tions on the withdrawal of U. S. earnings from the U. K. 'Gleam' .Faint in London London, Dec, 10. "The Gleam," which teed olf at the Globe Dec. 4, appears an un- likely entry, being s.'enerally panned by the crix. Based on the new government na- tional health bill, play i,4 topical but unlike the. authoi''s', ".Guiiiea Pig." which concerned public school re- form, it lacks punch. BELIFOET ABEOAD Joe Bellfort, RKO's new assistant Emopean chief, .left for Paris Thurs- day (5) to assume duties under Vla- dimir tissim. Bellfort was formerly far Eastern division manager, mak- ing his office in New York. Jack Kennedy has taken over Jell- fort's former duties as Far Eastern head. :. ^