The Exhibitor (1950)

8 EXHIBITOR Mel Konecoffs HEW YORK ROBERT ROSSON, writer, director, and producer, returned with family from a four-month stay in Europe, divided be¬ tween France and Italy, with the news that he and three or four other producer-directors will probably get to¬ gether to turn out inde¬ pendent productions at a reasonable cost, with sal¬ aries deferred and the profits to be divided equally. One staff will serve, and overhead will be kept at a minimum, with distribution to be decided separately. This has nothing to do with his being abroad other than it being a convenient time to release the plan, which should take a year to materialize. This agreement is the result of the con¬ tinually difficult future faced by inde¬ pendents in Hollywood. Diminishing audi¬ ences means reduced returns, and, as a result, reduced costs are necessary. This condition, Rosson estimated, can be at¬ tributed primarily to the effect of tele¬ vision as well as other competition for the entertainment dollar. However, a good and different picture will bring out the regular patrons as well as an audience not too motion picture conscious, as a rule, he declared. He thought that “All The King's Men” was a case in point. Here was a film, he reported, which not only brought out the regular patrons but others, and the film has done very well. His forthcoming film, “The Brave Bulls,” to be released by Co¬ lumbia, he expected would be a con¬ troversial picture, and may not have uni¬ versal appeal but he felt that it would certainly reach audiences that don’t ordi¬ narily attend theatres. He felt that the advertising approach to this film, which was almost wholly shot on location in Mexico, would lay stress on the story rather than the players. Rosson went abroad to write a script based on the novel, “Son And Stranger,” by David Lloyd, which he will also direct for Hal Wallis in England in May or June, as well as to view the situation with an eye toward eventually producing a film abroad. The next film on his schedule will be “Will Of The Wisp”, on which script he is presently working, also for Columbia release. As for producing abroad, Rosson felt that such a move should be made only if a story warrants it although the pro¬ duction scene for independents is consid¬ erably better than in Hollywood. He also felt that the independent has a better chance to keep costs down if he gets away from Hollywood on location, stating that if he had made “The Brave Bulls” in Hollywood, it would have meant doubling his budget. American pictures abroad, he reported, are very popular with audiences. He thought that French and Italian audiences wanted entertaining films rather than “thinking” films, and he admitted that his “All The King’s Men” suffered as a result. Executive Changes in JEP Organization PHILADELPHIA — New year changes in the executive ranks of Jay Emanuel Publications, Inc., were made known this week. Paul J. Greenhalgh, vice-president and business manager, becomes gen¬ eral manager, with Max Cades, pro¬ duction manager, moving into the business manager’s post. Cades joined the organization in 1938 in a clerical capacity, leaving to enlist in the army, where he rose to first lieutenant during his five-year stretch. He returned to the company, and rose to his present post. A graduate of the Charles Morris Price School of Advertising and Jour¬ nalism, he is widely known in trade and military circles, is married, and has one son, Jeffrey. SIGN OF THE TIMES: One distributing company is getting a memo off to its de¬ partments that expenses must be cut 20 per cent, and to please watch the pencils and paper clips. INDE PROD; Arch Oboler, producer, writer, and director, was in to discuss the release of his recently produced “Five” with two distributors, and he told us that he thought that the independent producer was a necessary part of the business, and it is up to the majors to see that they are kept alive. Recalling that the past has dealt harshly with most independents, he thought that their value has been well demonstrated by their fearlessly venturing into new fields, and when they so have pioneered successfully, the majors then have followed the trend more lavishly. He presently knows of a number of inde¬ pendents who have films in the can await¬ ing a release by the majors. “Five,” a story of five survivors in a world devastated by the atom bomb, was filmed for the most part on his ranch for $76,000. He has two other films in the planning stage, one, “The African Story,” in the new Eastman three-color process, utilizing background footage he shot while in Africa several years ago. The other will be an untitled adventure story. Both pro¬ ductions will be made with an eye toward eventual release to television. Oboler opined that eventually tele¬ vision programming has to be done on film not only because of the improvements possible technically but because live pro¬ duction is too much of a strain on creative personnel. He said that theatres should not be written off as lost for a long time to come although television has hit hard in some cases. It has been demonstrated, he says, that people will return to theatres for mixing, for size of screen and pres¬ entation, and just to get out of the house. He recalled that recently his own young.sters deserted their television-presented westerns to go to a theatre to see west¬ erns, and they came back enthused about theatre presentations. THE METROPOLITAN SCENE: The Times Square area bordering the Roxy was the place when the world premiere of “Halls Of Montezuma” took place with (Continued on page 10) "Montezuma" Hof In Broadway Bow New York — Business was fluctuating in the Broadway first-run spots last week¬ end. A bright spot was “Halls Of Monte¬ zuma,” Roxy. According to usually re¬ liable information reaching Exhibitor, the breakdown was as follows: “THE WEST POINT STORY” (WB). Strand, with stage show, claimed $15,000 for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with the third week expected to hit $29,000. “MR. MUSIC” (Para.). Paramount, with stage show, went to $53,000 on the third, n fl \A/^^K “THE ’ MUDLARK” (20th-Fox). Rivoli dropped to $24,000 on the third week. “HALLS OF MONTEZUMA” (20thF’ox). Roxy, with stage show, reported $63,000 for Friday, Saturday, and Sun¬ day, with the opening week anticipated at a bang-up $110,000. “KIM” (MGM). Radio City Music Hall, with stage show, garnered $80,000 from Thursday through Sunday, with the fifth week bound to top $120,000. “VENDETTA” (RKO). Globe dropped to $13,000 on the third week. “WHERE DANGER LIVES” (RKO). Criterion expected the second week to tally $14,000. “THE MILKMAN” (U-I). Mayfair drop¬ ped to $11,000 for the second, and last week. “BORN YESTERDAY” (Col.). Victoria claimed a hefty $50,000 second week. “THE FLYING MISSILE” (Col.). I oew’s State was down to $15,000 on the second week. “HARVEY” (U-I). Astor dropped to $25,000 on the third week. “PAGAN LOVE SONG” (MGM) . Capi¬ tol, with stage show, announced $39,000 for the second, and last, week. J. Clyde Goodson Mourned Jacksonville, Fla. — J. Clyde Goodson, Paramount branch manager, passed away last fortnight, after an illness of several months. He is survived by his wife, Sara; a son, James David, and a daughter, Doris Carol. Goodson joined Paramount in 1925 as an ad sales clerk in the Atlanta branch, and rapidly advanced to booker and booking manager. He was promoted to salesman at the New Orleans branch, and was subsequently transferred back to Atlanta, where he becames sales manager. Later, he became branch manager of the New Orleans and Atlanta offices before taking over in Jacksonville, Fla. Chisholm Heads Toronto VC Toronto — J. J. Chisholm was named Chief Barker, Tent 28, Variety Club, last fortnight. Others named were: E. W. Bushnell, First Assistant Chief Barker; R. W. Bolstad, Second Assistant Chief Barker; Dan Krendel, Dough Guy, and J. S. Wacker, Property Master. Directors are Jack Arthur, Herbert Allen, D. V. Rosen, E. W. Rawley, J. W. Ziegler, and Lome Green. Latta Heads London VC London — C. J. Latta was elected Chief Barker, Variety Club of Great Britain, succeeding Robert Wolff, it was learned last week. Other new officers are Jack Hylton, First Assistant; Charles Tucker, Second Assistant; William J. Kipper, Dough Guy, and D. J. Goodlatte, Property Master. January 10, 1951