Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1936)

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MOTION PICTURE DAILY Ostrers Intend to Retain G. B. Control, Says Isidore (Continued from page 1) 18 London Films Plan 12 For $7,500,000 (Continued from pane 1) Artists which he intends attending on the coast. Some of the attractions on the current program are "Knight Without Armor," with Marlene Dietrich and Robert Donat and "I, Claudius," with Charles Laughton and Merle Oberon with Toseph von Sternberg directing. "Lawrence of Arabia" in Technicolor will be the big picture on the season's lineup. Zolton Korda, brother of Alexander, will direct. London's schedule this season has been held up, Pallos said, because the new Denham studio will not be fully completed before next March. Erich Pommer will produce two ; Victor Saville, three ; and M. Pressburger, two, as associate producers. Walter Reich, director, has just completed "Men Are Not Gods," and will go to Hollywood, after which London hopes to sign him again. On the same boat were Roland Young, Cedric Hardwicke, Herbert Marshall, Frank Lawton, Martin Beck and Johnny Weismuller. Young said he had just completed a role in "King Solomon's Mines" for G.B. He will leave for the coast today to report at the Warner studio for "Call It a Dav," which Archie Mayo will direct. He also appeared in "Gypsy" for Warners in England. Later Young will return to New York where he will appear in a show for Max Gordon. Marshall Finishing Vacation Hardwicke, who also appeared in "King Solomon's Mines," is here to atroear in "Promise," stage play which Gilbert Miller will produce. He has no picture commitments. Marshall said his four-week trip to London was a vacation and that he expected to confer with Samuel J. Briskin here before returning to the RKO studio where he has a three-year contract. He is also under contract with Columbia for two years. Lawton is here for a role in "Promise," following which he will go to the coast. Evalyn Laye, his wife, is due next week on the Queen Mary. She mav do a plav here. Beck stated he saw six plays in three davs in London. He also spent three days in Paris and will produce one of the six plavs he saw there with Gutherie McClintic on Broadway. Weismuller snent his six weeks' vacation visiting his wife, Lupe Velez, who is making a picture in England. He plans to leave todav for the M-G-M studios where he has a twoyear pact. Ask "Scarf ace" Permit Chicago, Nov. 23. — Attempts to secure a permit for "Scarface," the Howard Hughes picture which was never allowed to be exhibited in Chicago, will be made shortly, it is learned. The film has been exhibited in outlying towns the past few months through the Ben Judell exchange. Del Ruth Busy Hollywood, Nov. 23. — Roy Del Ruth, with the cutting of "Born to Dance" virtually a matter of hours behind him, immediately stepned into direction of "On the Avenue," Irving Berlin story, at 20th Century-Fox. Dick Powell and Madeline Carroll are co-featured. stock also was emphatically denied by Ostrer. Asked whether his trip to Palm Springs in the next few days was for the purpose of conferring with Schenck and Kent on a possible sale of the Ostrer "A" holdings to Twentieth Century-Fox, which for some years has had the remaining 4,900, Ostrer said this was not the case. "The trip really is for the purpose of getting the complete views of Schenck and Kent, purely a vis-a-vis on the Twentieth Century-Fox association with G. B. "I'm satisfied Twentieth CenturyFox is going to hold its stock in our company and that it has no intention whatsoever of selling," he declared. "Are you going to Palm Springs to ask Kent to either approve the sale of your 'A' shares to Maxwell, or sell your interest to Twentieth CenturyFox?" Silent on Deal Status "I wouldn't dream of asking Mr. Schenck or Mr. Kent to do anything of the kind !" "What is the status of the deal made with Twentieth Century-Fox and MG-M before you left for London?" "I cannot answer that question until I return from my talks with Messrs. Schenck and Kent." "The story has been credited that the Twentieth Century-Fox and MG-M deal will be modified. Is this true?" "Our position is so complicated, I cannot answer this truthfully." "Is it complicated because of Maxwell?" "No, generally." "Was it that way before the Maxwell purchase of the 'B' stock." "Yes." "Isn't your trip to the coast to sell Twentieth Century-Fox your A' holdings in M. & B.?" "Not necessarily. I personally have a great belief in close cooperation with Mr. Schenck. Cooperation is of great value to everybody. I am going to see Mr. Schenck in an effort to work out our problem." Seeks "Cooperation" "Is the sale of the 240,000 'B' shares in M. & B. any indication of a merger with Associated British Pictures?" "There will be no merger." Ostrer said he had not heard that Michael Balcon, G. B. production head, was dickering with M-G-M to become top man in the English production unit planned by the latter company. He added Balcon's contract has another year to run. G. B. has not given thought to establishing its own exchange system here, he said in answer to a question, and it is unlikely that the G. B. and B. I. P. exchanges in England will be combined. The Ostrers hold about 300,000 shares in A. B. P., Maxwell's company. This was part of the deal whereby the Ostrers disoosed of the 240,000 "B" shares in M. & B., Ostrer explained. "Is it likely that Twentieth CenturyFox and M-G-M, or either company, may take over G. B.'s exchanges, or theatres in Great Britain. "No." "Will you confer with Nicholas M. Schenck while you are here?" "I don't know. At present I have no such plans." "Is it possible Maxwell will buy your 'A' shares, despite the fact you say he has no option?" "It is most unlikely Maxwell will ever control G. B. I can't conceive of him getting control of the company. We will not sell our stock to anyone." "What particularly do you intend to bring up with Schenck and Kent? Isn't it a fact you are going to discuss the previous deal with the possibility of modifying it?" "As far as I'm concerned we are always interested in anything that is commercially sensible and sound. Anything can happen. Nothing is impossible." "Why did G. B. pass the dividend recently?" "We have not taken in any revenue from the American market. This is responsible for passing the dividend." "When is the next board of directors meeting at which the dividend will come up ?" "Next September or October." International Viewpoint Maintained There is no intention of discontinuing the international perspective in G. B. pictures, Ostrer replied in answer to reports that such a plan was discussed at the recent stockholders' meeting in London. When Ostrer and his wife leave for Palm Springs in two days, Blumenthal will accompany them. Ostrer was asked about Blumenthal's commission. He passed it off with a smile. Blumenthal would not answer questions about the Twentieth CenturyFox and M-G-M deal, giving as his reason the fact that he was "blamed" for certain stories leaking out during the negotiations. While not officially expressing his opinion, he is understood to have told some of the trans-Atlantic passengers that the original deal will go through, possibly with changes. Schenck Expected to Buy From reliable sources at M-G-M, it was learned that Schenck will go through with the transaction to purchase half of the Twentieth CenturyFox interest in M. & B. This is scheduled to take place this week as top executives are understood to figure the stock deal a good buy. This angle, however, does not bear on the conferences Ostrer will have with Joseph M. Schenck and Kent. The deal is between Twentieth Century-Fox and M-G-M. While no appointment has been set, it is likely that Ostrer will convene with Nicholas M. Schenck on his return from the coast. Ostrer does not plan to be away more than a fortnight. G. B., which last week took over the American distribution of "Weekend Millionaire," has closed for a second B. I. P. picture. It will be announced in a few days. Arthur Lee yesterday stated that these pictures Tuesday, November 24, 1936 will not increase the announced schedule of 24; that they are replacing a group of other English pictures contracted for and not delivered. Collected $5,000,000 Here While Isidore Ostrer yesterday declared G. B. had passed its dividend because "we have not taken in any revenue from the American market," Mark Ostrer declared at stockholders' meeting in London on Nov. 2 that G. B. had grossed $5,000,000 in the domestic field. If Isidore Ostrer's statement of yesterday that G. B. had no intention of discontinuing the international slant in future product is construable as a conclusive statement, it indicates that a definite decision on this point must have been reached following the same meeting. Mark Ostrer then had stated it was impossible to recover from the home market alone the full cost of quality product. "We are, therefore, faced with the choice of abandoning our efforts in the American market in favor of a program of cheaper films for the home market only, or abandoning film production altogether," he had stated. "Either of the two latter alternatives would greatly assist our financial position but, on the other hand, it would mean giving up a great potential source of income. It would, at the same time, however, make dividends assured. This problem is now receiving the careful consideration of your directors." Waynesboro Houses To Open on Sunday Waynesboro, Va., Nov. 23. — J. Ellison Loth, an official of the Waynesboro Theatres Corp., states that Waynesboro will have Sunday shows beginning Nov. 29. Two showings will be given in the afternoon and one at night, he says. A recent survey, according to Loth, disclosed that 25 cities in this state now have Sunday shows including Norfolk, Roanoke, Richmond, Lynchburg, South Boston, Charlottesville, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Berkley, Clarksville, Colonial Beach, Hopewell, Ocean View, Quantico, Virginia Beach, Bluefield, Brookneal, Hillsville, Stuart, Falls Church, Big Stone Gap, Appalachia, Gate City, Grundy and Norton. Union Dispute Settled St. Louis, Nov. 23. — The judisdictional dispute here between the Electrical Workers Union and the I.A.T.S.E. has been settled out of court, and the injunction action filed by the management of the St. Louis and Missouri will be dismissed when it comes up Dec. 10. Everett Is Promoted Charlotte, N. C, Nov. 23. — H. H. Everett, Charlotte branch manager for Republic, has been promoted to southern division manager and is establishing headquarters here, from which he will supervise distribution in 11 southern states. Republic Film in B. A. Republic has sent a print of "The President's Mystery Story," the idea for which was suggested by President Roosevelt, to Buenos Aires, where it will onen at the Gran Teatro Opera Dec. 4.