Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1948)

SIUOIO SIZE-UPS Behind the Scenes of Film Production COLUMBIA Cheaper Product Geared To Domestic Market Oh Tap gIG HUSH-HUSH MEETINGS took place here recently among the top execs of the company with an eye to mapping out policy and program for the next year. No specific decisions have been announced, but the major problem seemed to be keying the product to a domestic market, which means a cheaper type of product. It seems apparent that the head men here are determined to gear their program to stand without any help from the foreign marketIf the foreign situation should clear, then ;hey hope to pick up the gravy. However, economy was the keynote of all the discussions, while it is reported (for the publicity mill) that there will be an increase in 'quality" pictures which will guarantee a maximum boxoffice on the domestic front. Janet Blair is the victor in her suit for equal billing on "The Fuller Brush Man." The court ruled that no advertising or publicity could go out on the film unless the Blair name got the same size type as Skelton's. Now there will be a hearing to decide how much in damages the actress is entitled to. Columbia is reported angling for Humphrey Bogart to fill the male lead opposite Rita Hayworth in "Born Yesterday," which is slated to start soon. Because the salaries of this pair would throw production costs over budget, Harry Cohn is reported to be negotiating a participation deal with the stars getting a portion of the profits instead of a straight salary. Bogart has "Knock On Any Door" to do for his and Robert Lord's indie unit (this will be a Columbia release, too) before he can get into this one. Our bet is that Bogart will not appear in "Born Yesterday." Sam Wood, one of the most active members of the Motion Picture Alliance, the violently anti-communist group in this town, lias long been hankering to do a film version of "Portrait of An .American Communist." It looks now as if the deal is going to jell here at Columbia. This deal is the tail end of the deal that was made when Wood pulled out of his Columbia set up and moved over to MOM. If he makes his film, Mr. Wood insists (with evident naivety) that entertainment and not propaganda will be the dominating keynote. Borden Chase has been named to do the screenplay from the Life magazine story. EAGLE LION Trouble Reported On Wanger's First For E-L 'JpHERE is trouble brewing here on Walter Wanger's first E-L production, "Tulsa." Wanger had agreed originally to bring the picture in at a cost of $750,000. But from the looks of the situation, he is not going to be able to make it. The company officials are protesting that they cannot handle any higher costs. Execs are huddling to try to work this snag out. Meanwhile, Wanger has reportedly ofTered the film to other releasing companies, but thus far has had no response. Production, of course, continues in spite of this business snag. Although "Tulsa" is the only film in work at the moment, there are several more scheduled to go within the next two weeks. "Red Stallion of the Rockies," 'The Big Cat," "12 Against the Underworld," Wanger's "Reign of Terror" and "29 Clues" are all down on the production chart for early starts. This company conducted an interesting experiment on its recent ad campaign for "Ruthless." And the results are worth noting. To start its campaign, the company used copy which sold the picture on story merits. Then, there was a switch and the copy turned to plugging the names of the stars (Zachary Scott, Diana Lynn. Louis Hayvvard, Sydney Greenstreet, Lucille Bremer and Martha Vickers. Studio spokesmen report that the lift in the box-office take on tlie second campaign establishes without question that star names are still the best box-office pull there is. This is particularly interesting coming from a company like Eagle-Lion which, because it has no great roster of names to protect can give a much more unbiased opinion than most of the other Companies. PARTNERS MEET M-G-M vice president Howard Dietz, center, pays his first visit to the Enterprise Studio to discuss with president Charles Einfeld, left, and board chairman David Loew plans for the first two Enterprise pictures, "Xo Minor \'ices" and "Tucker's People." to be released by Metro. METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER Schary Will Revitalize Metro's Rich, But Old, Studio 'JpHE big news here, of course, is Dore Schary. He will be in charge of production, accountable only to Louis B. Mayer. Judging by his record at RKO. Schary is just what the doctor ordered for the rich, but aged, M-G-M studio ; he is what has been missing since the passing of Irving Thalberg too many years ago. We look to him to revitalize this bountiful organization. In speaking of the need for "young blood" at this studio. Studio Size-ups has been expressing the views of many people close to Metro's operations. Now it appears certain that some imp<irtant changes will take place. Schary's entrance means that the "executive team" will probabI> be broken up. Some of the old-timers who have been living oflf the fat of the land here are slated for "redefinenieiit" of their positions, or, possibly, the axe. Within the last couple of weeks offices on the lot have buzzed with talk of enforced vacations and conjectures as to whose head would fall in the program that obviously called for the falling of heads. Meetings of the company's top executives concentrated on finding methods of cutting costs and apprently resulted in a realization that lopping off the low-salaried help was not the answer to reducing the staggering overhead of this studio. Now the dallv duction activities is viewed as a move in the right direction. It means that one strong top man will be responsible to him. That sounds man will be responsible for all production, with every producer responsible to him. That sounds like a sound way to cut red tape and avoid costly mistakes. This studio started its first post-war production in England, last week, when "Edward, My Son" rolled. Spencer Tracy and Deborah Kerr are the only Hollywood members of the cast and George Cukor is directing for Edwin Knopf. Plans for the second English production, "Young Bess", have bogged down a bit and as it looks now it will be at least six months before this one gets near a sound stage. ing is over and the head men of Loew's, Inc. are demanding results. The choice of Schary to head actual proSam Marx has finally set his schedule of semidocumentary films for his production chore here. He has eight films scheduled with the first one due to start by the end of August. These films are tagged with budgets of about a million dollars each. They will be given to top producers to handle and many of MGM's star names will be written into the casts. The stories are all based on true incidents. The first one to go is "The Case of Wanda Pearson," with Ava Gardner rumored as the lead. While there are six pictures in production now (including one in England and one from Enterprise), the production schedule for the next three months is slowed down to coasting speed. This slow-down is seen as part of the program for tightening up the loose ends and cutting the employment roster down to a minimum. Only two films definitely set for the next two months are "The Barkleys of Broadwav" (Fred .\.staire Judv Garland) and "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" (Gene Kelly Frank Sinatra"). MONOGRAM Huge Tie-Up Campaign To Sparic 'Babe Rutli Story' A mammouth series of tieups in which n»tional advertisers will spend over $4,000,000 was announced by prexy Steve Broidy for .\llied .\rtists' "The Babe Ruth Story". The plugs, plus the publicity contingent on the Babe's current condition, plus a huge N.Y. opening on July 26 at the .Astor, should start this of? with a bang. Director of advertising publicity Lou Lifton is currently in New York working like crazv to make the opening a ballylulu. Allied .Artists got another of its schedule under way here last week when Jack Wrather started his production of 'Strike It Rich", with Rod Cameron and Bonita Granville (Mrs. Wrather) heading the cast. Wrather sent his company on location with Director Leslie Selander. The picture has the oil fields of Texas for its background and the major portion of the film will be shot in that area. Only other film on schedule at the moment is a Johnny Mack Brown western. "Sheriff From Medicine Bow." PARAMOUNT Studio Economies Save 30% On Operating Costs J^OLLYWOOD was quite interested in tlje figures released in New York last week re J U L Y 19. 1948 19