Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1950)

STUDIO SIZE-UPS Hour," and "The Tender Hours." December: "Kim," "Watch the Birdie," "Cause for Alarm," and "Pagan Love Song." MONOGRAM-AA MONO TO TURN OUT MORE EXPLOITATION-TYPE PICS THERE ARE indications that Monogram will go in more heavily for the exploitation type of feature. More important, the exploitation campaigns, placed in the capable hands of tub-thumpers Lou Lifton and Johnny Flynn, promise to reap bigger returns for the company than the standard programmer ordinarily associated with Monogram. As an example, the campaign on "A Modern Marriage" calls for the company to make special tabloid heralds available to exhibitors in conjunction with all openings. Here in Los Angeles, approximately 50,000 of the tabloids were distributed just prior to the July 6th premiere. Copy for the tabloids was interestingly presented and has resulted in a good showing at the boxoffice in all four theaters where it is running locally. Four for July Although production continues at a leisurely pace of two to three films rolling per month, releases are averaging between three and four for each 30-day period. Steve Broidy, company prexy, has just announced the following four releases for July: "Arizona Territory," "The Silk Noose," "Snow Dog," and "County Fair." Hollywood also hears that the New York office of the company has just completed a reciprocal deal with Associated British Pathe for distribution rights on a group of between 24 and 30 pictures to be released in the next three years. ABP will distribtue all Monogram productions in the British Isles during the same period. PARAMOUNT TURN TO UNIT PRODUCTION PROBABLE WITH GINSBERG OUT THE RUMORED TOP echelon shake-up, first reported in Film Bulletin several weeks ago, became an actuality this month with the resignation of Henry Ginsberg as vice president and studio manager, effective July 15. At the same time, reliable sources at the studio expressed their opinion that the company is on the verge of turning exclusively to unit production. In other words, there is a strong possihility that, henceforth, only producer set-ups will be making piclures for the company. Furthermore, it appears that there will be no set policy on financing of such pictures. Part of them will undoubtedly be financed by Paramount, but many more of them will be financed by outside interests. If the unit production plan materializes, most insiders believe Paramount will hold out for half-interest in each of the pew units coming in under the company's banner. A great many Paramount stars are reported to be considering the forma tion of such units, including Bing Crosby, Alan Ladd, and Bob Hope. No Wide Scale Cutback Although no wide scale cutback in personnel is being considered, inasmuch as the studio's previously announced 1950-51 production program is already in the works, it would be erroneous to report that the mill-ol-the run employee has taken these new developments in stride. On the heels of Ginsberg's resignation, a pall of gloom settled over the studio, the likes of which haven't been seen since the darkest days of depression. Not only was Ginsberg tremendously popular with his employees from a strictly personal point of view, but they had great confidence in his ability to keep the studio operating in the black. Whoever steps into his shoes will have his hands full winning over these employees who have served and respected Ginsberg with their whole hearts and souls. At least three different men are under consideration for the vacated post of studio manager. Hal Wallis was at first prominently mentioned, but there is a general belief among studio insiders that he would not be interested unless the company bought out his own organization lock, stock and barrel, and gave him absolute production authority. Another who is being prominently touted for the post is Leon Fromkess, currently serving as vice president in charge of production for Samuel Goldwyn. And finally, there is Sid Rogell, who should be ripe for the spot, in view of his recent fade-out at RKO. Meanwhile, two important pictures were started last week. They are "The Lemon Drop Kid," co-starring Bob Hope with Marilyn Maxwell and Lloyd Nolan, and "Ace In The Hole," Billy Wilder's first film as producer-director for Paramount under his new contract. REPUBLIC HIGHER PROFITS FORECAST AS BUDGETS SPIRAL UPWARD AS PROFITS CONTINUE to spiral upward in the Republic ledgers, so too do the budgets on pictures either in production or scheduled for production in the near future. At the sam,3 time that the New York office was announcing a threequarter million dollar profit for the six months ending April 22, two of the three pictures then in production represented the greatest cash outlay of any Republic features in many a year. These two big budgeters, "Rio Brave" and "Torero," promise to give the profits an even heftier boost, judging from the enthusiastic approval which studio toppers are giving the daily rushes. As a matter of fact, all who have viewed the rushes are agreed that few pictures in Republic history have ever approached the quality of this pair currently before the cameras. Timely Short Credit is also due the studio heads for the manner in which they capitalized on their one-reel subject "The Battle of Korea," on the heels of the outbreak of Korean hostilities. By the end of the second week of fighting, 3,000 prints of the short had been made available and were drawing customers into theaters in all sections of the country. Granted it was a break for Republic that this timely short was available, it is certainly to the credit of Herbert Yates and his associates that they made the most of that break. And it shouldn't be overlooked that i was just such alert planning that ha; accounted for the great forward stride* which the company has made during thi past year. RKO HIGH RELEASE VOLUME DUE AS PRODUCER ROSTER GROWS pKO's VOLUME OF releases promise; to equal and probably surpass any thing in the company's history as a resul of the already announced productioi slate, plus the ever-growing ranks o producers affiliated with the company either directly or as independents con tracting for RKO release. As of the firs of the month, the company listed an un: precedented high of 18 company and in dependent producers. The present producer line-up includes Sam Bischoff, who also serves in a sup ervisory capacity over a portion of thi company's program; Jules Furthman Robert Sparks, Harriett Parsons, Ale) Gottleib, John Houseman, Warren Duff Stanley Rubin, Danny Dare, Lewis Rach mil, Herman Schlom and George Bilson Independent producers on either the RKC Gower Street or RKO Pathe lots are Edmund Grainger; Winchester Produc tions, headed by Howard Hawkes and Ed ward Lasker; Filmakers, headed b} Collier Young, Ida Lupino and Marvii Wald; Joseph Skirball and Bruce Man ning; Bel-Air Productions, headed bj James Vaughn, and Irving Cummings Jr., and Irwin Allen. This, of course, doe: not include such off-the-lot production units which release through RKO, sue! as Walt Disney, Saimuel Goldwyn, etc. In Formidable Spot This over-all production picture, couplec with the new Jerry Wald-Norman Kras na unit which has just taken its place oi the lot, puts RKO in a formidable spo equalled only by MGM at this particulai time. Evidence that there is no shortage o.| product is indicated by the number o unreleased films still gathering dust oi. the company shelves, four or five year: after their completion. At the presen time there are five such features, all com pleted in 1948, and within recent week; two of themi, "It's Only Money" anc "Montana Belle," have had their releasi date pushed back until 1951. Other oldie: are "Walk Softly Stranger," complete! May 31, 1948; and "Mad Wednesday" am "Vendetta," both personal productions o Howard Hughes. 20th CENTURY-FOX BRAND CREATES NEW UNIT TO TRIM PUBLICITY WASTE i COX PUBLICITY CHIEF Harry Brani has set out to do something to correc the senseless waste of publicity that ha resulted in nine out of ten instances o pictures produced in Hollywood; namely the failure to keep alive public interest ii a film between the completion of shootinf and the time it is released. Brand ha created an entire new unit in his depart mient for the express purpose of keepinj that interest alive, and thereby take ad, vantage of the reams of publicity that an ground out during the weeks a film 5 n FILM BULLETI