Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1944)

RANK TO PRODUCE SOUTH AFRICA EPIC Boost for Problem Market Seen Behind Revival of Production Project by PETER BURNUP in London Mooted first in Motion Picture Herald, as long ago as April 15, one of this country's most ambitious screen projects is in a fair way of materialization. It's to be a picture of South Africa's majestic history ; a pageant of crowded endeavor against the broad lands of a might/ country whose conquering by a race of stubborn, turbulent, pioneers, equipped with shotguns and bibles, surpasses the legends, so it's claimed, of Arizona, of Utah, of Kansas. Interwoven in the picture will be the life story of the greatest leader of them all. Field Marshall Jan Christian Smuts, one time rebel, now revered elder statesman of Empire. When this department moved that the picture be made, J. Arthur Rank was enthusiastically on the side of the "Ayes"; discussed the project with the late Colonel Denys Reitz, then High Commissioner here for the Union of South Africa; was assured of the benevolent interest of South Africa's Government. Arliss to Study Project Leslie Arliss — maker of "Man in Grey" and "Love Story" and one of our very up-aiidcoming directors — has worked in South Africa for many years, is recognized as an authority on the country's history. Mr. Arliss has been summoned to a Rank conclave whose upshot was that directions were given for a preliminary survey to be undertaken forthwith. Maybe, there's more than a little timeliness in the latest arrangements, for Mr. Rank has disclosed that he recently completed a deal whereby his films will have effective playmg time in no fewer than 100 South African theatres; that, additionally, he has plans for building his own large theatres in key cities throughout the Union. That South African market has long been a bug-bear with British distributors. There have been frequent, bitter allegations behind the scenes, that an anti-British bias was painfully evident among certain South African exhibitors. The problem was threshed out very thoroughly between Mr. Rank and Sypros Skouras, who promised that Twentieth Century-Fox would do all in its power to get nicer playing terms out there for Britain's films. Plans One Empire Sub ject Annually Mr. Rank has conveyed privately to us his determination to make at least one big Empire subject a year. First on the list is Thorold Dickinson's "Men of Two Worlds," for Two Cities. That picture, incidentally, may not be so long in getting on the studio floor as lately has been thought. It has been held up waiting for Gabriel Pascal to finish with this country's only effective Technicolor equipment. Arrangements are in hand, it is reported, whereby certain color cameras destined for the use of our Russian allies may be diverted temporarily. There's been a pronounced rush of Empire notions to the head since whispers went around of the new suggestions. , • c ij Filippo del Giudice was promptly in the held 26 RANK SEEKS THEATRE DEAL IN SOUTH AFRICA John Davis, nnanaging director of Odeon circuit of England and adviser to J. Arthur Rank on theatre matters, is en route from London to South Africa to work out a circuit deal for Mr. Rank and to acquire theatre building sites. Mr. Davis recently completed the agreement with Odeon circuit of Canada whereby Mr. Rank acquired a 50 per cent interest in the Nathanson theatres. Theatre grosses in South Africa are reported 15 percent higher than in pre-war days, although attendance has dropped from the peak hit in 1942 and 1943 when the Allied North African campaign was in progress. with the idea that he should make a film in India for the Indians. It's an engaging thought, charged with potentialities, but there's little likelihood of the idea coming to anything now. News, undisclosed officially, nevertheless entirely authoritative, is to hand concerning Vivien Leigh. Miss Leigh wants to stay in England for at least one more picture when "Caesar and Cleopatra" is completed. Laurence Olivier, Miss Leigh's husband, wants her to stay. So does J. Arthur Rank. Wherefore, it looks a hundred to one that Miss Leigh will stay on ; always providing that her employer, David O. Selznick, also consents. Parley by Cable There's been an exciting cabled parley lately, the parties thereto being Mr. Ranlj, Mr. Selznick, and the latter's representative this side, Miss Jenia Reissar, regarding the sort of film in which Miss Leigh next should appear. Producers here favored a highly-colored romantic affair, but the American party insist that Miss Leigh's vehicle shall be grimmer. They are willing to approve that thrice-proved story which concerns the trial of Madeleine Smith. L'Affaire Smith rated the status of a cause celebre; was regarded by the populace as the classic "Who Dunnit." For the lady was accused of murder by poisoning and, at her trial before the Scottish courts, the jury returned a verdict of "Non Proven." (That's an anomaly in British law. In England an accused is found either Guilty or Not Guilty; in Scotland the jury has the third choice.) Demobilization is very much the talk of the moment hereabouts, with Victory, some think, just around the corner. The Government is preoccupied that the British people shall not misconstrue official intentions. Accordingly, it has gone to the ace documentarians — the Crown Film Unit and the Army Film and Photographic Unit — for their aid. Pressure is being brought to bear on Major David MacDonald — maker of "Desert Victory" and a lovely little documentary just unveiled, called "Left of the Line," which tells of the doings of the British and Canadian Armies from D-Day up to Brussels — that he should concentrate now on a picture about demobilization. 250 Million U. S. Gross in England American films are grossing between $250,000,-, |c 000 and $300,000,000 annually in England, David Rose, managing director for Paramount in England, told the trade press in New York lastt Thursday. Mr. Rose arrived from London for one of his periodic visits to the home office and the studio. !' He estimated that British pictures, which occupy n 15 per cent of screen time in British theatres, were grossing approximately $65,000,000, and tha^ the Government tax of 40 per c^nt ran an additional $125,000,000 to $150,000,000, making a total box office gross for both American and British product of 1435,000,000 to $510,000,000 annually. ; Mr. Rose said that British studios today were equipped to produce only about 40 top pictures 8year but that soon after the war's end, England would double that number. The Paramount executive disclosed that J. Arthur Rank had tolc him that he was determined to make his companj the equivalent of an American major and that Mr Rank intended to produce 25 top pictures durina 1945, aimed at the world market. ^ Silverstone and Kreier Get Foreign Department Posts ' United Artists and Twentieth Century-Fox thij week announced two appointments to important foreign department posts. Walter Gould, UA foreign manager, mad< known Tuesday that Emanuel Silverstone wouk join the company's foreign division in an executive capacity January 1. Robert A. Kreier, Twentieth Century-Fox asl! sistant European manager until 1942, will resum* his position as assistant to Ben Miggins, Europear manager. Mr. Silverstone, currently on the UA hom( office domestic sales staff, will accompany Mr Gould on a trip abroad shortly to survey th( European market. He will aid in mapping plan; for the company's postwar expansion. Mr. Kreier, until recently, had been home offic< representative for 20th Century-Fox in Soutl America, principally Brazil and Argentina. Hi returned from that territory last week and expect; to go to Paris with Mr. Miggins as soon as trans portation is available. KRS Pledges Aid to Promote British Independent Films The Kinematograph Renters Society pledged it support Tuesday in London to promote "the flour ishing British independent film production" an( declared the industry's "world future" dependec on it. This action followed a meeting of th^ British Board of Trade, which rejected as "re pugnant" the suggestion that British distributor impose onerous film rental terms on independen exhibitors. The board also condemned the idea o legislation concerning film monopolies on the basi of its report exploring the subject. 1,600 Children Attend Warner Club Party More than 1,600 youngsters, including childre; and grandchildren and other juvenile relatives o Warner Club members jammed the Hollywooi theatre. New York, December 16 for the club' annual Christmas party. In addition to distribu tion of toys and candy, there was a program o special entertainment. Party arrangements wer handled by Martin F. Bennett, president of th club ; Harry Mayer, Bernard R. Goodman anj Robert Salomons. McKay Resigns NBC Post John McKay, manager of the National Broad casting Company press department for the pas three years, announced his resignation Decembe 14, to join the executive staff of King Feature Syndicate. Sydney H. Eiges, assistant manage of the press department, has been appointed t succeed Mr. McKay. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 23, 194