Variety (Apr 1949)

PICTURES WeAnasdaj, April .6, 1949 Indie Exhib Yens Good Die Days Of Block Booidng and 100% Lineup Despite the long series of vie-* tories won by the Dept. of Justice In its 11-year battle with the ma- jors, supposedly, on behalf of indie exhibs, many of the latter are prone to look back on the '30s as the "good old days." Block-booking and blind-selling, long since elim- inated by consent decrees, look rather attractive now to exhibs who must bargain for each pic and find the distribs breathing down: their neck hard for upped rentals If M-G Vamps Export Org Others Sure to Follow If Metro pulls out of the Motion Picture Export Assn. ih Germany, Fear No Evil Austria and Japan, other companies I story is a worthy one. The pro- Film Reviews Contiiiueil bom pk(* • i Extend 'Jennie' in Loop? Chicago, April 5. Request for extended Loop run tor "Portrait of Jennie" was put off to April 25 by Judge Michael Igoe, Chi federal district court, be- cause of illness of Tom MeConnell, Jackson Park theatre: attorney. Judge, however, admitted an petition, transfer- 38-house Interboro Circuit in New York, is among the leaders pf the "good old days" fraternity. He demonstrates why by fondly Anger- ing a Metro contract for the 1934- 35 season. It is for the Luxor the- atre, a subsequent-runner in Brooklyn, and calls for 47 pix, all of them (except 11 that the com- tiany could Choose) at $J7.50 fiat rental. Actually, Metro only se- lected seven of the iilms for perr centage .bookings. Most fantastic of all, in retro- ' spect, is the product - which M-G promised and delivered that sea- son. Here are-some of the 47 pix: "Treasure Island" (Beery, Jackie Cooper, L. Barrymore), "Chained" (Gable - Crawford), "Barretts of Wimpole. Street" (Shearer-March- Laughton), "What Every Woman Knows" (Helen Hayes), "Merry Widow" (Chevalier^Jeanette Mac-. , Donald)v "Evelyn Prentice" (Myrna Loy-Wm. Powell), "Painted Veil" (Garbo-Herbert Marshall), "Babes in Toyland" (Laurel & Hardy;, "Gay Bride" (Carole Lombard), "Forsaking All Others" (Crawford- Gable^Montgomery), "David Cop- perBeld" (W. C. Fields-L. Barry- more), "Afte.- -Office Hours" (Gable-Constance Bennett), "Van- essa" (Helen Hayes-Montgomery), "Naughty Marietta" (MacDonald- Eddy), "Reckless" (Harlow-Powell), "The Flame Within" (Ann Harding- Marshall), "No More Ladies" (Crawford-Montgomery) and "Es- capade" (Luise Rainer-Powell). Larger Profits Then will be forced to follow, Murray Silverstone, 20th-Fox foreign chief, admitted in New York this week. M-G, which has led other distribs in its desire to resume normal opr eratiOHs in the occupied countries, has filed applications with the mili- tary governments in the past few weeks for permission to open its own branches. It was learned elsewhere that the majors are already preparing license applications for early filing pir necK iiaru lui uuwv-u i amendment to . . ... T , tT. «!„, C„^r fnr thP "ng the picturc from the Garrick Jack Hattem, film buyer for ^the e j^^^^^. ^^^^^ j^, , j scheduled to be torn down around .„,^°)Hvp»nPr pLamountW" May 1. Apollo is on ^^-^'^'^ .^^^^S^^'^^SSi^M Prodp Shortage Continued .from page 5 guaranteed Columbia a $125,000 outlay for the run of "Knock on Any Door," now winding at the theatre. Of this sum, $65,000 goes to Col as assured rental for the run of the film and another $60,- 000 must be paid out in advertise ing. Maurice Maurer, operator of City Investing's theatres, paid off $250,000 on a similar deal to RKO for "Joan of Arc" at the Victoria. Maurer, it has now been learned; temporarily solved the: Astor's booking problems in a recent trip to the Coast. He has closed for six -months' .;exclusive playing of Columbia product. Starting with "Knock," Astor will take on "We Were Strangers" and "Anna Lu- casta." Col also has an option to book "Jolson Sings Again" in the house. Changeover of Loew's State to top Metro product has. toughened the booking problem for both Loew!s Capitol and the Criterion. Former house is operated'in part7 nership with Messmore Kendall.^ The latter was recently- operated jointly by M-G and B. S. Moss, but has been turned over to Moss entirely. Capitol has been de- eign cliiet, is now in xoKyo on a , Far East swing, studying the Japa- nese situation; Edward O'Connell, I M-G's Asiatic supervisor, is also in I Tokyo. . Silverstone said that a decision I would be reached shortly on the future of the 10-company coopera- tive distribution setup" in Germany, Japan, Austria and Korea, He added that if Metro carries through in its desire to do its own selling, the other ■ member^ companies, by force of expediency, would have- little choice but to follow suit. Pox international topper said that the other majors theoretically could continue MPEA operation, but as a practical competitive mat- 1 ter it would be unfeasible. None I of the distribs wants any of the others to gain, by setting up their own branches, an: advantage, against the day when remittances from the occupied countries may again be permitted. Companies get nothing now except some governmental aid in allaying print costs. ducers tell in fairly concise manner how Benedict da Norca, a member of a rich family in Rome, dedicated his life to prayer and rehabilitation of the destitute. Framed on a back- ground showing how the populace had sunk into idle ways, the cast struggles futilely, and the plot wan- ders aimlessly. Fosco Giachetti, as Saint Bene- dict^ easily is. outstanding, but he can't carry the ..picture alone. Nino Pavese as Governor ZaIla also lends a professional touch.: Lilianne Laine is in but has little to do. The others range from ardent thespians to rank amateurs. Indoor sets are inadequate but numerous outdoor scenes help make up for American producer Mtirltz Gruen- stein in Paris, and newcomer to the European screen, handles her part effectively throughout. Beau- tiful femme's debut guarantees a big future. O. W. Fischer, as the king, makes a most sympathetic figure. Siegfried Breuer as Harry always attempting to win the giri back,, is excellent. . Direction of Max Neufeld gets plenty of action and sets the script up with a good pace, there's not a dull moment. Two tunes are spot- ted: "We and Springtime" and "Roses of Love" are very catchy Score throughout measures up. An okay lensing job was turned in by Oskar Schnirch. Maas. this. :Weor. ;V;■ Paris, March 13: ■ ;carah;a- TOlwa^:' tof^PAUi-Edmbnd De^ enarme prodncUon; Directed by: Henrii Georser OouzSt. Star» Seirge Regtiani. Ce'cne Aubreyi JMchel AuclW and ca^ brieUe Dwziat. Screenplay, by ClouMt and Jean Ferryj music, Paul MiWakir cam./' era. Thlrardv At the Marlvaux. Paris. Running time. lOS a»l<S. ^r"- Manon Lescautv.'. ..Cecile Aiibiev Robert DesjrIeuxV.i ,Michel Auci»ir Leon Lescaut,.;,/....;,...Serge ReBgianl Captain .,.......;. .Henry Gilbsrt _ The Madame........... Gabrielle D()i'7.iat. Borje Mellwig. Alee Engfeldt. Camera^ Monsieur Paul.........Raymond Souples Goran Strlndberg: music, Erland yon Fevgelset (The Prison) (SWEDISH) Stockholm, March 19. Terra Film release o( Lorens Marm- stcdt production. Directed and written by Ingmar Bergman. Stars Blrger Malm- sten, Eva Henning, Hasse Ekman, Doris Svcdlund, Stig Olin; features Carl-Henrik Fant, Inger Juel, Anders Henrik.snn. Irma Christenson. Curt Masrellei. Arne Ragne- born, Marianne ^Lofgren. Ake. Frldell, Kock. At Astorlai Stockholm: Running time, SO MINS. Birgitta Carolina....... Doris Svedlund TomaS: i ................. Birger Malmsten Soli ................... Eva Henning Martin.................. . Hasse EEman Actor. .. .Carl-Henrik Fant Actress . ■ Ingcr Juel Paul..,.. . Anders Heniikson Linnea.Irma Christenson Alf ................. Curt Masreliez Postman.. .. . ......... Arnc Ragncborn Mrs. Signe Bohlln.... ..Marianne Lnfgren Singer. Ake FrideU: PoUce Inspector , BorJe MenylK Police Sergeant. .Ake Engfeldt Nabes Displace Continued from page 3: pending increasingly on Universal Hattem maintains that de-spite . product while the Criterion has the fact much larger suras: of ] leaned on U, Eagle Lion and Co- money change hands now than in | lumbia. 1934-35, the exhibs made compara^ tively larger profits then.' That was partly the result of the product, which was made and sold at a low price, and on some of which, .such as the pix listed above, the theatre operators made tremendous profits. Knowing that with' upped cosis and changed circumstances it is impossible, Hattem would never- theless like to return to the "good old days" , of block booking. He feels^ it allowed, the producers to sell their product more cheaply, the exhibs to huy it more cheaply and made for bigger profits all around. It furthermore gave the- atre ops an opportunity to do more planning ahead, he declares. : "The promise when block book- ing ended," he said, "was that in- dividual selling would force the companies to make better pictures in order to get sales. That hasn't happened. They just make fewer pictures and we have to buy every- thing they turn out, just as under block booking, if we want to keep our houses operating. So it hasn't meant a thing except higher prices because the companies are malung fewer pictures; and have to put more overhead on each. I'll gladly go back to signing a year's contract in advance for: a studio's entire output with a reasonable, cancella- tion clause." State has b^en grabbing off most of Metro's biggest films with the Music Hall getting the balance. Indicating the rivalry of .the 4wo for Metro's best is the fact-that "The Barkleys of Broadway," Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers musical, is grooved for the State on insistence of Joseph Vogel, Metro's theatre veepee. Distribution force was wangling for a Music Hall opening but Vogel fought for the film^ con- tending that , the shortage made it a must for his house. Both the Warner Bros. Strand and Harry Brandt's May fair have 1 been forced to fall back on re- j issues and return engagements to pad their schedules. Strand has played several dualers including "John Belinda" and "Treasure of Sierra Madre." Mayfair is cur- rently showing "Casablanca," WB's reissue. RKO Palace has also fre- quently resorted to that device to keep its doors open. Joe Curtis Continued from page ( Sue Rep for Piracy essary pounds was .somewhat com- plex, it is said, and Korda there- upon refused to greenllght .the pro- posal. Reportedly, Korda thereafter of- fered to accept the Curtis proposal five days before the option expired. Dispute thereupon sprung up over an extension of the option^ Curtis claiming that he was entitled to additional tlme> to iron details on clearing the coin; Kordav on his part, insisted upon carrying out the option by the March 31 dead- line. , Curtis had been dickering with both United Artists and Eagle tomobiles or hosiery would throw a large amount of money into an ad and publicity campaign for his product unless he had wide distri- bution so that people who wanted to buy it as a result of the cam- paign would be able to do so. Diluted Merchandising That's exactly wha- film produ- cers do, however, it is stated. They spend a lot of money on a nation- wide or citywide campaign: and then make their picture available in only one house of perhaps 1,500 or 2,000 seats. The same selling force could be used to fill a total of perhaps 10,000 or 50,000 seats in a whole flock of theatres. ■ ■: As it is, Lichtman declares, by the time the pic gets to the nabes the sales message is forgotten and another picture, which has moved into the downtown house, is get- ting all the plugging. The 20th- Fox exec hiaintains that people who can't get into the centre- of the city, or can't afford first^run prices, would nevertheless be will- ing to pay a little more than cur- rent nabe taps to get an earlier This new film, written and di- rected by Ingmar . Bergman, is a masterpiece and a credit to all concerned. It should Click at all Swedish boxolfices and will be a draw abroad. Critics here think it's the best pic shown in Sweden in the last 30 years. Film is a modern allegory set in a moving picture studio. A film director's friend, just out of a men- tal hospital, approaches him with the idea for a pic about'Hell, with the devil declaring that aU the evil and all the good in the world should go on as always,: if the people want it so. The devil also advocates that political misunder- standings, with wars, etc., should continue, but that atomic bombs should be banned. The director is hesitant about making the picture, but sees some analogy in incidents in the lives of some people he knows. One couple's marriage is breaking up because of excessive drinking on the part of the husband, who does not love his wife, but needs her helpi Another similarity is found in the story of a girl, who has borne an illegitimate cliild and is hounded by various people, who eventually drive her to crime. Such episodes create an incentive in the producer to make the picture, but he balks, because in portraying the devil as the ruler of the world, the impression is given that God is non-existent, a moral respon- sibility he doesn't feel qualified to undertake, Practically of Hollywood dual* ity, "Manon" has a 50-50 chance of getting through the American cen- sors. It is the story of the moral disintegration of a young man en- snared by a girl who has no moral standards. With the advance publicity, plus some - frontpage lawsuits on title, etc., "Manon" is bound to clean up at European boxoffices. The story,' a modernized veivsion of: the Abbe Pre vest novel, c.on-- cerns Manon Lescaut, a beautiiful, but not very bright girl, and her faithful lover Robert. Desgrieux. In the first part of the picture a flashback shows how. Robert saves Manon from an angry mob who are going to shave her head for collaborating with the Germans. They escape to Paris where Manon becomes the tool of her unscriipu? lous brother and eventually winds up in a house of ill repute. Rob- ert kills the brother and the two escape aboard a ship going to Palestine. Had the film ended here Gloiizot would not have been in trouble. Instead he begins an anti-climatic journey of the refugees killed by Arabs when attempting the trip. across the desert to the promised land. The film from now on: no longer concerns exclusively Robert and Manon, and becomes a story, of the Jewish refugees. It ends with the boy burying the dead girl in the sand. Cecile Aubrey is a talented 17- year-old who does a good job as Manon. Michel Auclair as Robert : is also excellent. Thirard handles his cameras well, especially the desert scenes, but Misraki's music is not up to par. Buch. Flickan Fran Fjellli^n (Girl from the MbuniaiM Village) (SWEDISH) Stockholm, March 28. Europa Film production and release.,, stars Eva Dahlbcck, Bengt Blomgreni (ca- Entire cast is firstrate with Dnrk EInar Hylamlcr. Carl Deurell, Kers- gander at pix. As a result, thertM Svefundy aliewcomer?e^^^^ L^" \i.''in?>>e£R.' k?! .ffohrborg. .su Huud, would be more in a film for both [ promising portrayal. Also out producer and exhibitor, since | standing are Birger Malmsten there'd be more coin coming from " mi—..-^ . ■ _.. > the public. Los Angeles, April 5. Dick Irving Hyland and Harold O'Neal, writers, filed a $100,000 piracy suit against Republic Pic- tures and Herbert J. Yates, in- volving "Calendar Girl," filmed in 1947. Scribes declare the picture was ba.sed on their story, "Pretty as a Picturei" submitted to Republic in i Lion for a distribution deal on The 1945, : film. Understood he is now _ j threatening legal action against HENIGSEN'S ITALO REPORT | ^^^^^^ ""''S*^ potential „ HoUyood, April 5. | it would have been the second Henry Henigsen arrived from ; deal of its type made by Curtis Italy to report to Metro on the pro-, and Miss Plckford with the British duction situation where — Vadis'' will be made, turn shortly to Italy' to prep; a late June or July start. Producer Arthur Horn blow, Jr., director John Huston, the cast and . crew will follow. An additional factor, is traffic and geography. With cities spread- ing and traffic heavy, it becomes very difficult for people to get to midcity. Why make it tough for them to see your product? Licht- man asks. Theatres located in suburban areas, with easily-avail- able parking space, will get lots of customers: to whom price is not so much an object as the inconveni- ence of a long ride in traffic, it is said. Some: of these people would probably not have attended a film at all, so they represent increased income for the industry as a whole. Hasse Ekmah, Eva Henning, Stig Olm and Curt Masreliez, all giving performances that won't easily be forgotten. Camera work by Goran Strindberg and music by Von KOck add to success of the film. Winq. . EIse-M.iric Brandt, Helga Brofeldt, Borie : Blomberg, Harry Phllipsson, Greta B«r- tliels. Albert Stahl. Directed by Anders Hcnrikson. Screenplay by Sven Gustafs- son from novel by Bernhard Nordh; cam- erai Bertll Palmgren; music, Sven Skocld. At Anglais, Stockholm. Running time, IHI.'.>IINS. Hardships endured by inhabi- tants of the mountain country in northern Sweden at the turn of the century, which resulted in their migration to America, have been ably depicted in this film. It will be sure b.o. here, and'a good bet Licbling dcr W«U (Beloved of the World) (AUSTRIAN) tt I *M .Vienna, March 11. --, —- - ..... •odnrti™ """" Oonau-Arta , for Swedish-language houses in the AL SUCHMAN JOINS SRO Al Suchman: joined the staff of Selznick Releasing Organization in New York this week as aide to gen- eral sales manager Sidney G. Den- eauv Suchman previously served as eastern and Canadian sales rep Nadlne Gray and a"w Siegfried Brcucr. m Jf«ted by^Max Neufeld. .Screenplay bv Sit'^'^l®'™«*'i!*,*«'» Karl Farkasi^am- era, Oskar ^ Schnirch: music. Nikolaus Brcdc/ky and Frank Fox. At Ila.vdn Kino, Vienna. Running time, »0 .MINS. ne-Toscs Nadine Gray King R.Toul,, . I......... o W Fischer ""a"'""'', ■ . ■ Siegfried Breuer And Marias Els, Karl Farkas, Egon v. .Tordan, Carl Guenther. Eugen Neufeld. .loehen Brockman. Hans Puti, Rolf KUt- schera and:Eduard Loibner. This pic is pretty melodramatic film fare, but of high entertain- ment value. Cinematic treatment bows to happy end theory, which . has paid off repeatedly at bbXofElce for Samuel Goldwyn and eastern :''«na is bound to do so this time too. salesmanager for Eagle Lion. l l'iBhtwelght yarn deals with a Wng In a further shuffle of help be- ".i!®."'''!^!!^^ who both — " ' ■ - ankle their jobs at the end and live happily forever: after. Jpilnt „„ i„ ix.K.i luiiuci orv»L» ore/ iMPii a™pw '''"?*®**®*T^ny histori-t Fury." Korda-madI film sta^ri^g i Peggy De(3raw wa^ named Sof w^'^Z"'' ''"I C^^ti^T a son of Jack Cohn. pTsf at Ir'S a'nt Sr t^tharat i gs !^^!^, X^^le'^"^^"^ ^^"^ exec veepee of Columbia. I Paramount. 1 ''kdine GrTy'- discovered by U. S. Good performances are given by Eva Dahlbeck and newcomer Bengt BlomSren. Camera wprk by Bertil Palmgren is outstanding. •':,..;. ■ Winq, . -fl "r>..n ■ T • .i-i - -, ^^'^ ""'^ Motion Picture e wuo I Lion outfit. Previously, duo ban-1 Sales Corp., new outfit headed bv Hell re-idled American rights to "High! former SRO prez Neil Asnew 'Years,* 'Miniver' Tops In Paris Despite Local Pix Paris, April 5. Over 60% of Parisian filmgoers prefer French pix to all others, according to a recent survey con- ducted and elaborately published by operators of the Rex theatre. Other results reveal that 88% ot Parisians go to the cinema while 45.4% go at least once a week. Dubbing is popular 'witli 'he fans, with 71% expreswnfi pref- erence for French in foreign hlms. "The Best Years of Our Lives and "Mrs. Miniver" placed among the 14 pictures most popular with Parisians during the last few yea"'