Variety (November 1954)

Wednesday, November 10, 1954 MCTUBES DOLLARS IN SEARCH OF IDEAS New DC A, Mak^liiDy TOA, Other Exhib-Primecl Product Will by Then Be Felt Exhibitors who are attempting to step up production feel that a competitive market will develop in six months to a year. At this time, the theatremen, backed by their trade associations, b.elieve that the. new indie production-dis- tribution outfits, such as Distribu- tors Corp. of America and Make- lim as well as other which will come into, the field via financial aid from exhibs, will be providing the '‘market with a steady flow of pictures. This new product; it's felt, will, make up for the void that now exists and caused by the ma- jor companies’ decision to : reduce their output. The new producer-distribs, it’s hoped, will be able to provide theatres with another 75 to 100 pictures. annually. The addition of this . total, it’s pointed out, will again place theatremen in the po- sition of being selective. The sales- men will again woo each individual exhib and the distribs will have to Come down ’ their terms de- manded for each film. And, it’s noted, the distribs will no longer be in a position to hold ..their big product for specific holiday perioas as they’re doing now. For example, the big beef now is that there’s no top product around for Thanksgiving or shortly thereafter since the.. dis- tribs are holding all their block- busters for the Christmas-New Year’s stanza. With product avail- (Continued on page 109 A. J. NELSON RETIRES In Film Biz 43 Years— Gleicher His Successor A. j. Nelson, head of Metro’s homeoffice contract, department for many years, will retire on Nov. 26. He’ll be succeeded by William Gleicher, beach of the theatre audits, staff of the sales department. Functions of the' top- per of. both departments Will be consolidated, with Gleicher as dual chief. Nelson was associated with. the film biz for 43 years, starting with General Films. He held positions with. Triangle Films,. Vitagraph,, and RCA until he joined M-G in 1939. Gleicher joined Metro... in 1936. . He became head of the theatre audit department in. 1938. Writers standing on . line waiting to join the percentage trend that has hit Hollywood. That's the observation of writer- director-producer George Seaton who’s in New York for promotional work on his two Paramount .en- tries, “The Country Girl” and “The Bridges of Toko-Ri.” Seaton contends that , screen 1 writers are entitled to similar per- centage arrangements as the / au- thors of Broadway plays. “If lie turns Out a ; good work, he should profit,” Seaton said., “If it’s bad, he should take it on. the chin.” Seaton said “the whole town” is on a percentage kick. “It’s the only intelligent way,” he stated. “It makes for enthusiasm. You don’t find pictures 'made just for the sake of being made.” . Seaton and his partner, William •Perlberg, have their own produc- tion unit, an outfit wholly financed by Paramount. * They work on the Par lot and have access to Par story properties ’or can originate their own yarn purchases. Their deal with . Par calls for a percent- (Continued on page 16) If some one could come up with. a solution which would let an actor keep his earnings, the lot of ; the independent producer Would be an easier one in the opin- ion of producer-director Robert Aldrich. For, he pointed out in New York this week, bank loans are Usually contingent upon star values ih a projected film’s cast. When the star can’t retain a fair portion of income due him as his share of the profits, his interest in a deal, wanes and the task of the producer is made thAt more diffi- cult. “It would be a terrific break for the film maker,” Aldrich de- clared, "if an answer to. the prob- lem could be found under existing tax laws.” Aldrich, who is readying four projects for the cameras in the next 11 months, returned to the Colist earlier in the week after a short Gotham stay to select four actresses to costar in “Kiss Me Deadly” for United Artists release. Basdti on a Mickey Spillane story, the Park Lane production rolls Nov. 29 at the Goldwyn studio. Also on Aldrich’s slate are an- other Spillane yarn, “My Gun Is Quick,” which he’ll do for Park Lane next October, along with two for The Associates & Aldrich, First of the latter pair to move into production will be “Pot Luck For Pomeroy, based on a story by Rob- ert Wallace Russell. Other is “The Way We Are,” which will star Joan Crawford. Last week’s convention in Chi- cago of the Theatre Owners of America' served JO spotlight anew the curious array *of “shortages” from which ” an' outwardly very prosperous film industry ig cur- rently suffering. The retailers decry shortage of both product; and prints; the manufacturers decry a shortage of both stories and stars. Thus, the venerable law of demand and sup- ply is being bottlenecked by a baf- , fling combination of offsetting fac- tors. Exhibitors demand more fea- tures; plenty of financing for more pictures is readily available; yet more pictures, in total, are not in sight. Plainly exhibitors . are vitally concerned about product avail- ability. And' the move of TOA it- self to set up a production f inane 1 ing company looks “for real.” That TOA membership expressed will- ingness to put up their own capital to bankroll production looks like a seriously thought-through proj- ect that promises to get off the ground with a pic-making revenue source, HArry Cohn* president of Colum- bia, apparently carefully timed his “announcement” allocating $10;- 000,000 exclusively, for the backing of indie production, separate from and in s r 'ion to the stu- dio’s “full pr t,ram of cofnpany- ma.de pictures.” If money albne were the answer, (Continued on page. 18) Dr. Alfred N. Goldsmith explores the question After Widescreen: SOUTH SEAS FOOTAGE Wayne Morris Starred In Film Made By Ex-?Adman 'Hollywood, Nbv. 9. “Pacific Crossroads,”, color fea- ture lensed aboard a yacht in the South Seas, will, be offered for either theatres or television. 'Stars Wayne. Morris. Footage is to be edited into two “pilots.” Was shot by HD produc- tions, of which J. Hugh E. Davis, former ad agency exec is./prexy* Orville Hampton was producer-di- rector. an interesting byline piece in the 49ih Atiniversary Number of 'A'RIETY Skyrocketing costs of film-mak- ing has some eastern observers Wondering Whether the . studios aren’t going overboard in their quest for absolute authenticity. Argument is made that producers of period pix are going to extreme. —and expensive—lengths to recre-. ate the precise detail ,of the era with which they’re dealing. No one argues that films shouldn’t, be reasonably accurate, in their portrayals. However, it’s pointed out that the insistence on complete historical fact is a costly proposition and that only a minute audience sector is in a position to know to what extent a. picture has or has not compromised on correct detail. “I don’t really see where this vol- uminous kind pf research one reads about is really necessary, or where it helps any at the boxoffice,” one exhib. opined in N. Y. last week, “if they kept it down to. a rea- (Continued on page 14) Paramount stands ready to fin- ance film production by Any thea- treman who has an acceptable plan.' “Anyone, members of Theatre Owners of America, anyone, with an idea for a picture can pre- sent it to Barney Bala ban and Y. Frank Freeman and they will have a sympathetic ear,” states Par v.p. Paul Raibourn. Par will put. up the money, he added. Balaban, of the company, and Freeman, studio v.p;, are for- mer exhibitors, Raibourn noted. Raibourn made the statement i commenting upon the TOA conven- tion in Chicago last week where the theatre organization voted to establish a finance company to stimulate independent production, the money to be provided by ex- hibs. “The. major problem facing the industry,” said Raibourn, “is the one pf ideas. Paramount will have 20 pictures next year but we would like to have more. Balaban told, Freeman to produce any property that looks tp.be helpful to the com- pany and exhibitors. We’re only (Continued on page 14) Associated Artists Produeti Inc., former distributor in the tv field, has beeh reactivated, by Eliot Hyman to engage* in the. produce lion and distribution of both, the- atrical and tv pictures. Hyman dis- closed in N. Y. yesterdAy (Tues.) that the outfit already is set with an extensive lineup of films which will be sold to theatres first and then to tv .outlets plus a wide range of product solely for tv.. He said (Continued on page 18) Trade Perking Up; Christmas’ Again Topper, ‘Star’ Second, ‘Widow’ 3d, ‘Sabrina,’ ‘Contessa’ Next TO SCRIPT Hollywood, Nov. 9. First package deal for Joan , Crawford is “Queen Bee,” in which she will' be reunited with Jerry Wald and Ranald MAcDougall. pror- ducer and writer of her former starrer, “Mildred Pierce.” Actress- bought screen rights to the novel, hired MacDougall as writer-director and- then sold the package to Colombia. Wald will produce, personally, starting in February. W. K. Craig Retiring Hollywood, Nov, 9. W. K. Craig, Metro comptroller Since company was formed in 1924 and with the old Metro company previously, retires on Nov. 30 un- der Metro’s pension plan. He also is a member of the five- man board which directs studio end of Loew Retirement FUrid. $75,000 (MAYBE MORE) Hamilton Basso’s recently pub- lished novel,, “The View From Pompey’s Head,” is being pur- chased, by 20th :.Ceritury-Fox for $75,000, There.’s an escalator clause in the ,deal whereby the purchase price can be increased above 75G’s if the book hits and holds the bestseller list.' Buy is in keeping with the stepped-up interest of the Holly- wood studios in presold literary . properties. Astaire May Produce Hollywood', Nov. 9.. Next assignment for Fred Astaire 1 at ,20th-Fo.x may be as a producer instead of a star. His contract with that studio calls for . one more picture after “Daddy Long Legs,” And he admits the possibility that he will take over the production reins. Meanwhile Astaire has a commit- ment to star in “The New Orleans Story* at Metro next yearWith Dolores Gray as :femme lead and Arthur Freed as producer. Although it’s the week after Election Day, film biz .shapes up solidly. In many respects, the cur- rent session is following the trend of the stock market. With two such smash grossers. as “White Christ- mas’’ (Par) and “Sta-ri Is Born” (WB) out in circulation and. other strong b.o. draws, trade. ' piling up big figures^ "Christmas” is easily setting the pace, for the second week in a row, arid by a ;Wide margin. The $565,- 000 gross being registered in some 17 key cities covered by Variety —currently follows the $525,000 racked up last week in 1.2 keys. In several. spots, the pic is holding very cloSe to first week, figures; "Star Is Born” O^B) continue* very big in secorid place, Same as a week ago. It currently is play- ing in some 16 keys, “Black Wid- ow” (20th) is pushing up to third position on its first week around. “Sabrina” (Par) is climbing.from... fifth spot to. fourth position via some additional fresh playdates. “BArefoot Contessa” (UA), out this round for first time tp.any extent, is ending in fifth slot, “Cinerarria” (Indie) is drppping 16 sixth place, with end of run an- ticipated ‘ onfe or two cities, “Rear Window” (Par) is finishing in seventh with “WateNtenl” (Col) taking eighth money. “Hajji Baba” (20th) agai is winding up ninth, same as. a week ago; “Brigadoon” (M-G) will fin-^ ish in 10th "Beau Brommel” (M-G), fairly new, an'd “Bengal. Brigade” (U) round put the Golden Dozen in that order. “Suddenly”. (UA) annd “Black. Knight” (Col) are the run- ner-up pix. “Carmen Jones” (20th), a newie, is rated fancy on preem week in L. A. while continuing smash in second N, Y. stanza. “This Is My Love” (Col), .also new, ranges from light to fair this session. “Passion” (RKO), fine in Chi, is mild iri.K. C;, and Denver. “Drum Beat” (WB), good in In- dianapolis, shapes nice in Philly. “The Detective” (Col), another newcomer, is wow on first week at N, Y. Fine Arts. “Reap Wild Wind”-" Appointment With Dan- ger,” Par reissue package, is doing surprisingly well in L, A.. “Sitting Bull” (UA), hangup in Louisville, looks good in Detroit and. fair, in Indianapaolis. “Four Guns to Border” (U). looms fine in N. Y. “Her 12 Men” (M-G), nice in St. Louis, is moderate in Portland; “Human Jungle” (AA) looks good in K. C. and Frisco, . "Woman’s World” (20th), big in Toronto, shapes okay in L. A. and K. C. “Down 3 Dark Streets” (UA),. is good in.Philly. r “High arid Dry” (U), looms good in K. C., N. Y., Boston, L. A., and -Frisco. “Hell Raiders, pf Deep” (IFE), is okay in Chi. (Complete Boxoffice Reports on Pages 8-9, ) Trade Mark Registered FOUNDED BV SIME SILVERMAN Published Weekly by VARIETY, INC Harold Erichs, President 154 West 46th St New York 36, N.Y JUdson 2-2700 Hollywood. 28 6311 Yucca Street Hollywood 9-1141 Washington 4 1292 National Press Buitdi STerling 3-5445 Chicago 11 612 No Michigan Ave. DElnware 7-4964 Condon WC2 8 Sti Martlfl’j! PI., Trafalgar Temple Bar 5041. ' SUBSCRIPTION Annual $10 Foreign $1) Single Copies 25 Cents ABEL GREEN. Editor INDEX Bills 62 Chatter; 70 Film Reviews 6 House Reviews 63 Inside Legit ..........,.. 64 Inside Radio-TV 42 Interriational' 12. Legitimate 64 Literati 60 Music ' ; 49 New Acts . . . . 60. Night Club Reviews,..... .. 60 Obituaries 71 Pictures. . . . 3 Radio-Television 24 Radio Reviews .32 Record. Reviews 50 Frank Scully . 69 Television Reviews 28 TV-Films 46 Unit Reviews 63 Vaudeville ..... ... 58 •Wall Street 18, . daily Variety (Published in Hollywood by ■. Daily Variety, Ltd.) $15 a Year. $20 Foreign