The Film Daily (1947)

M*t Wednesday, November 13, Soviet Pix Getting Political bias melts before pesos. Questioned as to the effect of opposing ideologies upon the success of Russian films in the Latin American market, Nicholas Napoli, president of Artkino Films, asserted yesterday "if the picture is good, then it has the same opportunities as other films." Exhibitors are mainly interested in making money from films, Napoli said, adding that only in very few instances did he meet a South American exhibitor whose bias exceeded his acumen to such an extent that he refused to play successful Russian films. Napoli, who heads the American distribution agency for Russian films, has just returned from a fiveweek t:ur of Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Venezuela. Trip was essential to check up on business conditions. Only new negotiations conducted were with Films Mondiales of Chile f;r the distribution and the exhibition of Russian product. Artkino has no branch offices in Latin America. All Russian films shown down there are handled through existing agencies. During the past year Artkino has offered 12 feature length pictures for distribution here and in Latin America. British films, Napoli reported, are making quick headway in all of Latin America, though the biggest threat, at the moment, is Mexican production. Outside of first-runs, which are usually American films, Mexican product gets the best playing time. In small towns, particularly, Mexican pictures rate top choice. Napoli was very much impressed ^vith Universal-International's set-up in S. A. Russian offerings most popular south of the Rio Grande were: "Rainbow," "Girl No. 217," "Spring Song," "Leningrad Music Hall" and "We Will Come Back." Napoli reports that movie fans in the Latin American cities prefer titles to dubbing, adding the same attitude prevails here. Apparently there seems to be a high correlation between literacy and the preference for titles. Any at rate, Napoli said, "it is not likely that future Russian film will be dubbed." HOLLYWOOD • •*•***••••*• =;^;^=^=^^^=^ By RALPH WILE " RandaU for U. S. Col. Pix Sydney (By Air Mail) — ^Ron Randall, star of "Smithy," has signed a seven-year contract with Columbia to make pix in Hollywood. SEND BIRTHDAY GREETINGS TO: Nov. 13 Nicola Napoli Eddie Buzzell Robert Sterling Gertrude Olmstead Donald Duck Edward Alperson Daun Kennedy H. C. Potter Jane Marker Best Sellers — B. O. Dynamite HOLLYWOOD • • • TWENTIETH-FOX'S AMBITIOUS production progrcnn gives further evidence of Darryl F. Zanuck's keen appreciation of the box office dynamite inherent in best-sellers Slcrted for production next month is "Captain from Castile," to be followed by "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir," "Chicken Every Sunday," the novel which was also presented as a Broadway play, and "Scudda Hoo, Scudda Hay" Others on the list are "The Snake Pit," "The Black Rose," "The Walls of Jerico," "The Foxes of Harrow," "Honey Fogling," "Nightmare Alley," "Brittania Mews" Tyrone Power will star in "Captain From Castile," with Henry King directing cmd Lamar Trotfi as producer Gregory Peck will be starred in the "Foxes of Harrow," with William Bacher as producer Another important best-seller on Zanuck's schedule is "The Dark Wood" ▼ T T • • • JAMES DENTON, of the 20th-Fox studio publicity department, reports that Tyrone Power's 21,000-inile air tour of Latin-American countries far exceeded its goal, goodwill The Latins sure go for the dark-haired Power and Cesar Romero who accompanied him Director Henry King takes Power, Romero and a unit of 150 cast and crew to Mexico on Nov. 28 to make "Captain From Castile" Power, however, will attend the world premiere of Darryl F. Zanuck's "The Razor's Edge" in New York on Nov. 18 before he goes across the border T T ▼ • • • OTTO PREMINGER has 108 days to bring in the muchdiscussed "Forever Amber" for Producer William Perlberg with Linda Darnell and Cornel Wilde starring This vrill probably prove to be one of the company's costliest productions, even exceeding Zanuck's "Wilson.". . . • Robert Bassler has been the lot's busiest producer He has just brought three in under the wire, "The Brasher Doubloon," "The Homestretch" and "Bob, Son of Bottle." He is now concentrating on getting the widely-read novel, "The Snake Pit" by Mary Jane Ward before the cameras Anatole Litvak will direct T ▼ T • • • ZANUCK IS RAVING ctbout the 100 rave cards he received from the sneak of "The Razor's Edge" at Riverside recently It was the most unanimous verdict of approval on a picture the company has ever received. ... • The company wrill use the costly location of "My Darling Clementine" in Monument Valley, Ariz., for George Jessel's musicaL "Ballad of Furnace Creek" The location set was built by John Ford -with the future in mind. ... • Bigger and better things are forecast for Victor Mature as a consequence of his performance in "Clementine" ▼ T T • • • DICK HAYMES flew down to Arizona to visit his wife, Joanne Dru, on location with "Red River" and hustled back for his radio broadcast. ... • Peggy Cummins is sponsoring Victor Wood, handsome English actor in Hollywood They played together on the London stage And just ■wait until you see Miss Peggy in "The Lctte George Apley" She shows them that terrific exploitation campaign didn't go for naught Miss Cummins is now preparing for "Moss Rose.". . . • Bill Eythe is making an extensive lour of the British Isles before returning to his home studio after completing a picture in England ▼ T ▼ • • • JUNE HAVER managed to fly to Rock Island, 111., for a terrific hometown welcome A day was set aside as "June Haver Day" with city and state dignitaries on hand to participate Junie planned on going to New York for a vacation spree but was forced to cancel to return to the studio for a test She'll hit Gotham later DATE BOOK Art £. Thru Friday: "Screen Publicists in exhibit, Barbizon-Hiaza Hotel. Today: Ailied fheaters of Michigan conve Hotel Book Cadillac, Detroit. Today: MPTO of ArKansas, Mississippi and nessee convention, Chlsca Hotei, Mei^ Today: Monogram stockholders' annual meet Hollywood. Today; Michigan Pioneer Dinner, Inn, Detroit, jointly sponsored riety Club of Michigan and AlliJ of Michigan. Today: Annual election, Screen Writers' C inc., Hollywood. Nov. 14-16: National Exhibitors Associatio Mexico convention, Mexico City. Nov. 18: North t.entrai Amej mia-year co ticn. Hotel Nicollet, Minneapolis Nov. 19: Government-industry conference White House. Nov. 19-20: ATO of Indiana annual Fall vention, Severin Hotel, Indianapolis. Nov. 20: Picture Pioneers Harvest dinner, dorf-Astoria. Nov. 21: Barney Balaban )DA testi.r.onial ner. Hotel Astor. Nov. 22: Variety Club of Michigan Fea ] Party, Book Cadillac Hotel. Nov. 22-23: Independent ineater OwnerWisconsin and Upper Michigan conven Schroeder Hotel, Milwaukee. Nov. 23: Canadian Picture Pioneers ball carnival, Royal York Hotel, Toronto. Nov. 25-26: Allied MPTO of western Pennsylv I convention, William Penn Hotel, Pitisbuj Nov. 30: Cleveland Salesmen's Club Thanks i ing dinner-dance, Statler Hotel. Dec. 3-4: Motion Picture Foundation tional meeting. Roosevelt Hotel, leans, La. 5: Annual election. Associated of Greater New York, Local 802, AFM ' York. 9-10: Theater Owners of Oklahoma : vention, Skirvin Tower Hotel, Okl3^ City. 7: TBA annual meeting, Waldorf-Astc ,_... 14-17: Materials Handling Exposition P lie Auditorium, Cleveland, 0. |an. 26-28: Theater Owners of North and S: Carolina, Charlotte. )an. 28: Board meeting to elect officers cf Allied Independent Theater Owners cf E. em Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. ^ug. 4-7, 1947: NAVED convention and exhi Hotel Sherman, Chicago. Feb. 3-5: National Electric Sign Associal convention and exhibition, Congress Ho Chicago. Dec. Dec. Jan. organ New Musi Broadcast Pictures Fills Corporate Posts Complete organization of Brof cast Pictures, Inc., is announced Jo£eph Steiner, president. Otl: officers of the ne'w production out are: Richard Hancox, vice-presider Max Rothstein, secretary; Adol Lund, treasurer. Skedded for production in Janua is "Rhythm Rhapsodies." Seco: picture to follo'W' will be "Investigl tions, Ltd." Steiner will act as pr ducer, Rothstein as co-producer, a;j Hancox as associate producer av production manager. "Sudden Death" and "No Tii for Living" are next on the schedu Equity Studios Start Operations on Dec. 1 ll'cst Cuast Bureau of THE FILM DAIL Hollywood — Costing $3,000,00 Equity studios will s.art to opera Dec. 1, Jack Schwartz, vice-presidei announced. The lot, located at 81 N. Cahuenga Blvd., will have nir stages, as well as complete stud facilities.