Variety (Dec 1946)

20 PICTiniES W«4ln<>8(1ay, Dercmbrr 11, 1946 jo's Forep Dept. Sees l(b Division Earning 10^ of the Average 35m Gross Hors d' Phoned /- Hollywood, Dee. 10. Warners lilerally was ciit oflf from phone; service yc.sterday (9) when someone described by Burbank police as a ''nialiciaLis mischief" chopped-- the , phione:, wire.:: Cable stongside. it, v^as n(it 1 cut ,,itttQ,, feojitting to, Ihe liiale-; factor .as a technician - of. some. Sort who i knew\ better. Along ;w.ith studio phones soN-- eral outside private lines \yere: severed, inckiding some in, thfe police station proper. ■Uiiiyersal's foreign department expects its new 16m aivision to earn JO'; ot the average 35m gross in ijich countrv during its first year of operations, with 16ni revenue add- ing Up iu much, more than lO''! once the narrow-gauge program really starts rolling, according to . Harold Su,?arman. chief of the new division. Sugannan explained that the Ibm pix in all situations, would be Sold on slightly: higher percentage terms than the regular 35m films, adding that a guarantee would be required in mgst situations because of the ex- pense involved if it were neces-sary ] to .send a checker Out to the back- | woods cinemas. „ i , i n 11 , , i ,' . i , ~ ing handled as "professional bookr HUGHES SIMPLY HATES ings,"' which Sugarman defined as "those that embrace;;,^ny. kMdrot regularly-operating ;.sRoW for which- admission; is charged and foi" wliich the motive is profit." U is presently releasing -16m, pix in Knfiland, France, Belgium, South Africa, the Philippines, Mexico and Cuba and is prepping to open up in the rest of Central and South America within the next couple of months. Sugar- man plans a trip to Europe next February or March to supervise in- auguration of the program in other countries. Pictures currently being distrib- uted on narrow-gauge stock are somewhat older than current 35m release, Sugarman said, but U hopes to catch up in time in Europe. Com- pany hopes to concentrate on ac- tion-type pix in Latin America, the Philippines and possibly the Far East, he; said. .. Dale Belmont's Suit Vs. Les Cowan K.O.'d Singer Bale Belmont's suit for $100,000 damages against Lester Cowan Productions vvas tossed out Of court Friday (6) a.s tlie appellate division of ihe. I^; V. supreme court uiuinimiiusly approved Judge Ben- jamin F. SchroitJer's order to .set aside a previous .iury award in her favOr. Jury awarded Miss Belmont $2P,00O but she appealed to t court,in an attehlpl, to get the full amount originally asked for. Her only recourse now is to a.sk (or a new trial, ■ ■ Suit was brought. a8aiii,.st; GoWiin by Mi.ss. Belinonr on the dvarge, that she had been signed.to do a role, in his productipn of "GI Joe" but that the contract liad not been fulfilled. Film Reviews Continurd from page t Picture Grosses countor-liex Hall and a pickpocket to snatch (iorcev's hynotizing coin. Hall, Bobby Jordan, Gabriel Dell, Billy Bt'tH'clict and .01 her Bowery Boys are up to their usual .standards. Gale Ri'bblns, the.jiikcbox voice, apr pears to a,rt\-antago and is credited with vocaling fihn's iwO tunes, ,"A l.ove Song to ReinenibiU'," and "One Star-Kissed Nit'ht," both by L'Hiis Hersclicr. Ben Wi-ldeii, tlie ganibler: Sammy Cohen, the "inil-eye"; hm Keith, and others in cast are capable. , ,WilKatn Bcaudine does neat job of directiiijg, giving-Gorcey, and his-inob chance for .usual broad characteriza- tions, Lensing by James Brown and other produetibn factors niea.s-iMv.. >ip, Brog. 'AUTHORITY'IN THE AAA Rupert; .Hughes, novelist, branded the proposal for an American Au- thors: Authority, sponsored by James M. Gain and the Screen Writers Guild in: Hollywood, as "an un- American scheme to shackle writers with a dictatorial , regime." ,Hughes, who is visiting New York from his Coast re.sidencej stated that despite the modifications made in the origi- nal AAA plan after protests from al^ sides, the coercive design imder- lying the plan still i;xists. Answering the contention of AAA supporters that the plan's constitu- tion contains safeguards against cen^ sorship, Hughes said: "They're too intelligent to come out openly for censorship but, in the namD of free- dom, they will do everything to cir- cumscribe it." He added, "the v^'y Film Foundation — Cantlnned : from page 4 writer, give him orders as a writer. _ . . . -i, _ . -D ir, I word 'authority' is hateful" and that George wcitner. Paramount in- ^ v i , i. ternaUonal prexy. is also studying j he would not let any publisher, pro- the 16m situation during his cuirent 1 d""^. 5"'^'..P''''^^ looksee at Europe, it's been learned. Murray Silverstonc, 20th-Fox Inter- national prexy, also revealed this ■week that he's requested hi.s man- agers in all overseas exchange areaii to send him reports on the advis- ability of beginning narrow-gauge operations in the near future. tee, chairmanned by Ted Gamble, board topper of the American The- atres AS.sn. "The objectives need only be limited," he declared, "by cur generosity and imagination in advancing the welfare of the people of the industry.". Projects envisioned take in the lifld of health and hospitalization, educational grants "to workers in the industry who merit such assLst- Bnce," and research grants for ad- vancing the industry in general. Re- garding research, MPF would .step into an area proposed by Eric John- ston, Motion Picture Assn. prexy, for his planned Motion Picture Institute. Latter has been suggested a,s an all industry encompassing body, but the idea is pretty ipuch dormant now. Qualifications Discu.ssed at some length were qualifications which would be re- quired to obtain benefits of the Foundation, particularly lor people ■who were out of the industry at the | ing System; Norman Corwin, radio Fibns Can Join Science As Peace Aid—Wallis Representing the motion picture industry at the sixth annual Ameri- can Nobel dinner held at the Hotel Astor, N. Y., last night (10), Hal Wallis, Paramount producer, declared that both science and films can con- tribute effectively to "progress for peace." Wallis stated that motion pictures had become a well-estab- li.shed instrument of science with its most dramatic use illustrated in the recent explosions ot the atomic bomb. . - Pointing to the series of film biogs of prominent scientists produced by Hollywood, Wallis disclosed that be- fore the war he went to Stockholm for preliminary research on the .life of Alfred Bernhard Nobel,' whose 50th death anniversary was being commemorated at the dinner. Wallis said that although the war inter- fered, he was still interested in pror ducing a film on the Swedish scien- tist. In summation, Wallis said that motion pictures could serve the cause of peace by making pictures "that jump national boundaries and attitudes with the universality of art." Speakers at the dinner al.so in- cluded Edward R. Murrow, vice- president of the Columbia Broadcast timie they applied for. aid and hadn't definitely established their right by lengthy service. It was finally agreed that the fund should be open to employees and former employees "who meet reasonable qualifications" . . . and "shall have satisfied niini- ,mum standards to be established by the local and national Foundation." Number of methods of raising the Initial coin were suggested, Among them were special midnight shows with films, theatres and labor con- tributed; a day 01' week set a.side with a number of theatre activities; a small tax on film 'renlal."!, to be shouldered equally by -exhiljs and distribs, and- an all-ind.u.?try dues- paying membership setup, Bcquest.s in wills are. also expected to, result in considerable income later on. Meeting okayed recommendations of the organization committee, head- ed by Leonard Golden.son, Par the., atres chief, for the Foundation to be "operated bynational board of Bl trustees, comprising 31 npcinbers elected, in, key cities, 10 dislrib reps and 10 Irustee.s-at-large. There will also be local bodies in each exchuniic district, which will be very nearly autonomous in running the affairs of their areas. Effort .was made to give the MPF a distinctly regional char- acter, rather than having it centrally controlled out of New York. .scripter; Pearl Buck. Nobel prize winner in literature and others. Dobinsky Bros. Suit Over Chain Settled Kansas City, Dec; 10. A settlement amicable for all con- cerned has been worked out in the protracted suit in Cole county cir- cuit court, Jefferson City, Mo., where three younger Dubinsky brothers were seeking equal shares with their elder brother, Edward Durwood, formerly Dubinsky, in the string ot 13 theatres operated in Missouri and Kansas. Durwood said the settle- .nSent was reached last Saturday (7) b,iit;did not disclose, financial terms. All property and stock of the $2,r 000,000 theatre circuit in Kansas City, St. Joseph and Jefler.son City, Mo., and Leavenworth, Kan.s., remain In the control of Durwood and his two children, Stanley and Marjorie" Grant. " ,.' The' three brothers : Will continue in their active positions, Irwin Du- binsky as city manager in St. Joseph, H. W. Dubin.sky, city manager at Leavenworth,' and Barney Dubinsky in a general capacity, according to purwood's, statenient, V ^ The son, Stanley, is appointed as.si.ctant to his father in operating the circuit. CoDllniied from page s= WASHINGTON week. "Never-Say Goodbye" (WBV ■ tiOod $24,000:- ■v;:-''.^ '',-' ' Keith's »RKO) <1,838; 44-80)— "Notorious" (RKO) (.Id wk). Hold- ing own at big $15,1)00. Last. week, sock $22,000: I,i(tle iMIllorl (285: $1.20-$2.40)— ';Henry V" lUA) CSth wk). School groups, etc., buying blocks of tickets formatinee.s continue to assure ca- pacity here. , Still $6,500 for fourth consecutive week; Metropolitan (WB) (1,513; 44-70)— "Dark Mirror" (U) (2d run). Okay $8,000. Last week,'iPlainiiman" (.Par) (reissue), exceptional $10,500. Palace (Loew) (2,370; 44-70)— "Undercurrent" . (M-G) . (2d wk). Mild $15,000. La st week, goo d $24,000.' 'Mirror' Rousing 18G, Buff.;'Skies'Hot 18G, 2d Buffalo, Dec, 10. Downtown deluxers are ' doing fairly well despite nvimber of hold- overs this week. Best newcomer is "Dark Mirror." smash at the Lafay- ette. "Blue Skies" is strongest of holdovers, still' big at the Buffalo. Estimates for This Wee* Buffalo (Shea) (3,500; 40-70)*- "Blue Skies" (Par) (2d wk). Strong $18,000 or better. Last week. Brhasn $31i000. G.reat Lakes (Shea) (3,000; 40-70) —"Margie" (20th) (2d wk). Big $13,000 or close. Last week, sock $19,000; Hipp. (Shea) (2.100; 40-70)—"Kings Row" (WB) and "Wild Bill HIckock Ridc-s" (WB). Neat $9,500. Last week. "Deception" (WB) (m.o,), $8,000. I.atavette (.Basil) (3.300: 40-70)— I "Dark Mirror" (U) and "Great To Be Young" (Col). Smash $18,000. Last week. "Jolson Story" (Col) (5th wk), $14,000. Teck (Shea) (1,400; 40-70)—"Wake Up, Dream" (20th) and "Shadows Over Chirialoiivn" (Mono"). Good $3,500. Last week. "Three Little Girls" (20th) (3d wk), same. 20th Century (20th Cent.) (3,000: 40-70) — "Nocturne" (RKO) and "Genius at Work" (RKO) (2d wk). Way ; off to $10,000 or near.. Last week, huge $20,000. Seattle Full of H.O.s; 'Skies' Wham 17G, 2d -Seattle, Dec. 10 Nice biz continues here despite number of holdovers. O'nl.y lesser product and reissues form the new entries. "Blue Skies" looks stand out fcr second week. Estimates for This Week Blue Mouse (H-E) (800; 45-80)- "Margie" (20th) (4th wk), .Okay $5,000 after getting great $7,200 last week. Fifth Avenue (H-E> (2,349; 45-80) —"Notorious" (RKO) (2d wk). Swell $14,000. Last week, great $21,300; Liberty (J & VH) (1,650; 45-80)— "Return of Monte Cristd" (Col) and "Dark the Night" (Col). (2d wk). Fair $7,500 after good $9,100 opener. Music Box (H-E) (850; 45-80)— "Dods worth" (FC) and "Down Argentine Way" (20th) (reissues). Yanked after blah $2,600 in 6 days. Last week. "Before Mast" (Par) (5th wk). good enough $4,600 in 6 days. ; Music Hall (H-E) (2.200: 45-80)— "Coura.ce of Lassie" (M-G) and "Crack-Up" (RKO) (2d wk). Fair $7,000 after good $12,300 last week. Orpheum (J-E) (2.600; 4,5-80)— "Killers" (U) and "Miss Big" . (U) (2d wk). Big $10,500. Last week, sock $17,400. , Palomar (Sterling) (1.350; 45-80) —"Torrid Zone" (WB) And vaude. •Fair $7,500. La.st week, ^'Death Val- Ipv" (FC) and "Dangerous Money" (Mono) plus stage; ,good $8,100. Paramount (H-E) (3.039: 45-80)— "Blue Skies" (Par) ^Zd wk). Great $17,000 after colossal $27..300, which is near the all-cit-y record. Roosevelt (Sterling) (800; 45-80)— "9 Stpos" (Indie) and "Nothing Sar'',f>d (FC). Okav :$4,<100. l,ast week,_ 'Clonk Dagger" (WB) (3{1 wH). good $5,700. :, ■ : :-h. MfinoKJ-it'r'il i-i'it'iiNti nl' .Inti '(ii-iiiidt pi-i)i'li]<--- (i«)ri, Sti'ii'R . I.e*)- (;tti-^-»'\-; I't^iilui-f.s lIunLit lliUI, .I^ntlKli'iKN Dut'hlH-ille. n«lf'>v .Tdi-iUii, tlulirlpl Ufll. inil.'f KeliBdicl. .IXrei-leil by WiHiatn nt-iiihlin'e: iv.'fKistjutt illi*t'<-tnr; Ktlilip Iiii\'is. Srrfctiplity. KtlinutnJ ■ .^ewiinl.. Tim U.vjiii: ciiHtpra. -ll-Ni-t.v . N'eiinijinii; t'tliuir. llM-hai-iI (^ii:i-it?r..„„.V(- jti'o»ik.l,Mi .sii-iuui. (Id.-^i Dpi'. 7, -ii;. , iuinnli,te,;<;n.mV'M -MINN. ;..,.......i.4'o oori'pv . ..... ..Hiintz Hull '."low.....,, .DiiliBltiSK Dumlulllc illliy;., .,.. .. Bdliliv Jor.liin . ,., . .Ciihi.ipl D.-II Krt'.:.,1!';. i...;,.;....,.,., niiiv. licnodi.-i luok';,,,. .......... .. ..D.-ivhi Uui-ct'v .. .■i'iUlis, rhllHlllei- -. nciiiVr.v..,.-.»./-. .,'.....,.\Hiur-icv Wum I'K. Urlimn. .t... ii.....,....,,. Vi'ra T.t'wls il<"-' Clinrlen .UlilUli'lOM »«'n.;. / .rhfslcr VXaic .i. .Klcliurir .AU'Kilndfr . i. .....,......... i,. Ufirnflrd (Jorce.V KS'lwff. . ..i .. .Chai-leii Mlll(!n<>l<i ; ■ ■ . i. i.ArdlLlV ' .Mills ifliii^... >Piin I'. Lifriimii Film comedy, nurtured on slap- .strck, reverts to early childhood in Spook Buster.s." Entire '.story, with all its attendant comedy business, reeks of .gleanings from »ast produc- tions long gone into the limbo of iin- remembercd celluloid. There is the ever-present feeling of having seen all this somewhere before. And yet spotty as the screen values are there are a lot of laushs among the hokum. Even the old business of two people, searching for something in the wall, and an.swering each oth- er's knocks, is u.sed. Overall, how- ever, the film drags and is repeti- tious.' It hasn't much appeal except to the grammar .school level and weekend matinee business. Story has the Bowery Boys grad- uated from an exterminating school and going out on their first job. which liuppcns to be an old deserted man- sion. But the joint's jumping with secret panels, sliding doors: magic tricks, flying axes; etc. And there, pulled: right out of the storV file, is a niad .scientist who wants to trans- plant a human brain Into that of a gorilla. Film is Padded out to pro- gram length with miinv secret pjis- .sages, lights on and o(T. disappear- ances and other stunts which have been .seen too many times be'ore. One new angle .is the mad doctor's television machine which enables hini to see the goings-on in evei-y room of the house: never did ex- plain who panned the video camera around to follow action. Leo Gorcey uses the vehicle for family emoioyment. .spotting his father and brother in feature roles. That the pacing holds up at all in Ihe face of so much padding is a credit to editor Richard Currier and director William Beaudiiie. Dead end type thespinc comes out like saasages out of a mill. Definitely a lower- strata dualer. TIb«> Tarax Faiiilly Ai-IMiio rd,.ii.».^ Af Kiev Kiim .Sluilii,.u nH.iliii llun. Sli.rs .\Milirii..!i Uiili.iinin r tel- lun-s lliamill' '/.u.-^liin. P;:ni».l .'^JlKJll. Kn- ■■■fiu- I'. ■K.iiKirnik-ii. \'n-.-i Sliiviiiii: DhVclpi' liy Mill-It Dim.^lioy. .S.rr.f.|il.l;iy. lioris C.iir- i»fiioy. fnim no\-fl l.v (lorlutltiv: c.-iinprii. Ffiris Moii;iRfri.',il<>-; iiiu'.ic. r.pv Si'hwartz: KnelL-h litlpn. I'lu.i-lps Clfnufrt. npylPWPil '1*. •i;.^,'!,''''""'''' ' Df<-. T. '4(i. Ituhniiiir lii)ic. cii .MIAn, . ;.'. ,...,... ...Amiinuil Bnli'limn He. , M...liimi n....... ... . . , .Ur.nliimln Ku.slcin .sifiwin......... ...... ,, , . .Darilcl KiiKOl Aiwli'pi , . . KiiKpnp PfinotnnrpnUo Nil.M.vil .......... .... . .Vfi-ii Klovinii Anlnniuii. ...........Mi^rln . .'(anniKval (■-rrofitiia ;. ;..',,.. , i;. . .T.illjiiy K-.n-UielM'Vn y-'lvii. .;....,... .El»Miii Osmvnlnyskiiya :\i'f.il>>k....; i..,. ,i;,.... ..VII. iii.ni Zimovplz (ti-anildiuiulilpi-., . . . . .J.iKlii l.ijiTOn-evlcH ;""!<" ■ ■ ■■■■ ■ ■ •.' i .vailin y.aVurpnUfi (.itntiail H»'a<i..... ......Mikhail Vlsotsky lln Ruxsian; English Titles) : The oyerlong cycle of Russian films treating with Nazi brutality-^ and in this ease, roiipled with fierce demands for revenge-^-is foUo-wed throufih in 'The Tarys Family." Cii- rloiLsly out of .joint with prr.ss re- ports of Ru.ssian edorts io win Ger- many over to communism, this film reiterates the blaok-and--whlte char- acterizations of the Teutons and So- viets, and, once again, tos.ses in some heavy-handed flagwaving sans ideol- ogy, for the nonce. It's earnest and elemental from cover to cover but rertiini.sceht, too, in its Dreoecupation as- heretofore Willi Russia's bitter .struggle against Teutonic occunation. "Taras" offers no cniarter to the escapism school of thought. Unre^ lieved as it-is b,V humor, pic is not a .morsel fpr any but tho.'ie -who want their history tirim and strong. Yet. ■clealing in elementals, the film - i.s strangely lackine in dramatic build- up and wallop—to a sum-total that's episodic and non-climactic In Uir <iiak'cties of economies, it isn't bo except for those located more than a mitc left of centre. Heralded as the first Soviet filni io dramatize the Nazi di.scrimin.ilui y policy against the Jews in Goiinaii- occupied Rii.ssin, "Tara.s" actually fo- cuses on a Russian family (Slavic) and Teutonic efforts to force re- opening of an arms factory. Jewish question is treated in a few epi.s(Kle>--' dramatically—the most eO'eclive in the film, 'tme, a terrifying hunt lor Jewish hideaways; the olher, a brutal ma.ss slaughter. The latter has im- pact de.sp'itti> .sortie sloppy niegging and camera work. Acting is at the high level ciis- stomary in major Soviet pictiuizing This ,:-g(:ics equally for the principles and the extras who combine iuier- cstlngly diversified Slavic pliysidg- nomy with'an honest touch of'riisiic earlhiness. Hat dofring'is particulm ly due to Ambrosi Butclima for his three-dimensional and consistently top-rate portrayal of father Tar.-is. Trip of moppets who fill in as the Taras children also rate a plug—for doing their stint manfully without that precocious cloying quality that's tripped up more than one pie. ■ ■ ■ Wit.;. ■ 4iir4>«'n for llaii)i<4>r (BKITISH-MADE) London, Dee. 5. ,',Oi>ne,riil FHiii ntin-niulwrii' rpli'a.s,- <ir- Irv- iliyliliial. t'lctiire.; -.stars .Salry.. tlrav., Ki.va.' imiml J.-)l>iii Trevor Jlowai-tl. liiri'df,) l.y Hltttijej^ GUIia(.., J^fi-eenplay Iiy sidnf.v llat. CInutI. Curiif'v from iitivel liv 4-iii-i.i- llanna Btraml. - ('nniPra, Wllkie t\M;iifr. At (.InuiDonl-rirfti.^li. I.oiidiiri-. Dec. fi. *4«. .nnn- alTiK till"'. "1 .MINS., Ml'. ISilPn . . .. .i...... i ...T-i-., (icnn .Mr. ruKly......; ,.,;..... .iHcmv Kilivar.l» Dr. Barnes. ..i.............Tri-vur Huwartl Dr. Whlt*.. i... .KoiiHltl A.liiiri SlKler Bate's. luily t'aiiirilu'll N'urse SaiiHon..............KoaaiinuHl .ititm. Nurse Llllley.... .i....i..... i. .Sallv (Jray SLster Carter... ...,,WeMilv 'rb«i«ii.Miii .\'»r.se Woodfi .\hpuff .leiikini"i Tnspet-ldr Oot'krllt-........:... .:AlaMa,lr .'^hil ' Sertfearit Hendricks. ,., .<ie<il"Ke, >VfMi»UH"i*l)te Joseph YJt^Kine M<Mire, Ifarrlfttt This whodunit has the unusual set- ting of an emergency wartime hos- pital with the' operating theatre as the scene of two apparently clueless murdcrsi Wounded by a biizz-boinb, local postman is brought to hospital for a slight emergency operation, but dies under the anesthetic. Six people are present at the deaths—Leo G«'nn, Trevor Howard, Judy Campbell, Rosamund -John, Sally Gray and Megs Jenkins. Judy Campbell finds evidence that the man was murdered and before she can inform the police, she is stabbed to death. Alastair Sim, uncon vent lor de- tective from Scotland 'Vard, ..,)pfiirs to enjoy the double murder case and has great fun annoying the sii,spe.ct.s. He discovers each one had a motive, until an attempt on the life of Sally Gray reduces the number to four. To reconstruct the postman's death, the inspector stages a mock opera- tion. The suspects believe it to be serious and while they perform their normal duties, he unmasks the killer: Messrs. (jijliatt and Launder, oiie- tlnie maslers of suspen.se. are losing their touch. The plot is too labori- ously constructed, and the reason for the murders appears too incredible to be accepted by ordinary audiences. Nor is the wartime .setting and the operating theatre likely to have much feminine pull. The acting is tini-' formly good without being outstand- ing, and Alastair Sim's unorthodox detective is welcome relief. It should do fair busincs.s here on the ca.st and reputation of the pro- ducers, but it faces tough goine in America. Cnne. P'ctage. Chiseling ConMniied from pace .*! for the six-year period. Order calls for the defendant additionally to turn over daily b.o. reports, ticket • controls, booking book.s, admission tax returns and portions of Federal income tax returns relating to gross receipts. Decision is expected to be prece- dental in the percentage chiseling suits, now in excess of 1.50 through- out the country. Distribs based their pitch on assertion that action -stemmed not from the playing con- tracts but from a general charge of fraud which would bring it into the six-year cla.ss. Court agreement is viewed as material aid to distribs in their battle to collect an estimated $10,000,000 in unreported rentals. Shrewd legal move by di.stribs which netted six-year inspection has paid off in another way. Validity of playing, pacts has been open to -strong que.stion of legality becau.se of anti-trust decision which ha.-^ held certain of their provisions ■violative of the Sherman laws. But exhibs have been unable to attack rental suits on that ground bccau.se distribs have cannily acted under fraud laws rather than on the pacts; thein- selvesi .■