Variety (March 1932)

VARIETY P1 C T II R E S Tuesday, March 1, 1932 Brit. Int and Cainnont Brit. Execs U N. Y. to Invade U. S. Prod, and Dist. Another big attempt by; BritlsH fllmdom to break into tlie.Anfierlcan market is bttine quietly: outlined. Both of. Ihe big l^niglish. picture companies, British ; International ; and Oaumont Btitfab, are laying out progtams for the near future that include America. Aiid in a bigger, way than ' ever previously tried. HIP'S program, officially calls for film production in Hollywood. Gaur mont's idea is a complete flnancial linking up With Tiffany, an Ameri- can company, for reti'oactive dis- tribution. Plans of British. International were admlttisd yesterday (Monday) by Arthur Dent, managing ^llrcctor of the company, who Is visiting New Tork, although there's nothing '^§flnlte as yet, he added. For quite some time, Dent says, his company has been producing pictures In England with a specific eye on the American market. An iattempit to brash the distribution field h^e about a year ago in a big . way, he admits, cost his company considerable cash, but was worth while in experience and prestige. . Propitious, Says. Dent . 'No^r we feel,' he says, 'that we have cleaved a way and ought to take advantage of It. If: we can make some pictures In the United States to add to bur Londbn prod- uct, which also will be manufac- tured, with an eye constantly .pii the American distribution needs we win possibly have a better assort- ment of films for both cquhtrles. American casts in some of our ifilms will help us sell even in England; 'The great difficulty In our path at this moment Is that the pound has fallen, meaning that we. must, spend the equivalent of $1.30 for every dollar. But it may be worth while. Monty Banks, Dent says, is now Ini Hollywood looking, over the pos- sibilities and talking to studios for space rates. When the deal Is ready Ba,nks will probably take charge of production. —Meantime Dent Is reorganizing the . distribution offices of his com- pany in New York, with Sfdnby Garrett, In charge the past year, out. No one named to replace him yet. Dent states for the time being his company will be satisfied to proceed distributing in the quiet way of . the past few months, selling whatever picture is good enough to a na- tional distributor and handling the rest Indepiendently. Ostrer Gaumiont-Brltish plans are. less definite. Maurice Ostrer, G-B chief. Is due In New York tomorrow (S). to join, two G-B execs already here. These s^re Jeffery Bernerd and Wil- liam Gell. Both are unwilling to epeak before Dsti*er's arrival. They're ail here to see about plac- ing films here and arranging for U. S. TJroduct for the other side, for one thing, but their Jjresence here is principally (1) they would like to buy the big piece of Gau- mont owtied by Fox, and which Fox is understood willing to sell; and (2) what 'is considered in foreign film channels, as more important Is that they \yould like to make a deal with Tiffany for mutual production and distribution on both sides of-the ocean. Basic detail!^ of lhi§ combination are inslded to bo set, with linrtl wrinkles to be Ironed out within Iho coining two Avieeli'S. ■' Cheerio! The greeting now in most all film comjpany h. o. buildings: 'Hello, you still here ?' roXRULETO BUILD TALENT , ;Holly*woodi .Feb; 29. Fox win attempt to build up its player contract list with youhg biood rcicruited here. Fevf ot the young players brought froni the eastern stiage failed to show' possibilities but inany of the neophytes Werel dropped froni' the payroll. . On the eve. of his departure from here, E. R. Tinker loft orders for new bipod for thei contract list, which was followed-by a studio call for all agents to trot out their young talent for tests. This is in line with Tinker's viewpolritj expressed, at the massed press interview last week, that in his. estimation it was cheaper and more desirable for a studio to build its own names: than buy them ready-made froni other studios and the stage. Senator Slurs Studio Hosts Col. Charges Lewyn-M. P, Fund ShortsV Deal Unfair Hollywood, Feb. 29. Motion Picture Relief Fund is holding a special meeting tonight . (29) to consider Harry Cohii's pro test that the Fund's deal with Louis Lewyn for 'iloUywood on Parade' shorts is unfair discrimination against Columbia's screen . snap ahots scries. ■ Cohn .says licwyn will be per- mitted to phi tograph'stars who are iTiade inaccessible to his own shorts, i/ewyn Is turning over 90% of the gross to the fund in a deal' for 'Par- amount rclea,se which calls for li guarantee by Publlx, Loew's and ■Warner Bros.. to. book the short.s 100% solid on their circuits. Hollywood, Feb. 29. A peeve has been conceived lo- cally against Hon. Fi:ederick H: Gillette, until recently United States Senator from Massachusetts. While being feted and rushjed so- cially by the film colony, the sen- ator was writinrr unkind things about Hollywood in his home town paper, the Springfield 'Repu^plican.' Happening almost at the minute another senator, Smith W. Brook- hart, was steaming up the public against the industry the Gillette ar- ticle was sall;^ in open wounds. Warners was his particular host on the day Hollywood found out about that back east steam-up. As a result of Gillette's unex- pected reaction to their hospitality film execs have realized that put- ting on the dog is bad policy where senators are concerned. Only idea Gillette got was that such a pros- perous, as he thought, business should be handsomely taxed.' , He saw only extravagance and waste and thought that €Conomy would be 'a wholesome novelty.' , ^'s.^*!^^^"-^''"'-'''' JUNECARR Assisted by Dan Harden Bob Grannls said: 'A little blonde, with agile legs, steps right out and stops the show, nearly steals it al- together, Her looks, miethod and dancing should send her . Into, the musical field In short time.' Week Feb. 27, Loew's State^ New York. Dir.: j,eriry Cargiil. , • WELD P-'P DEPTS. McCarthy Off Publicity—Greenberg, Harry Gqetz and Barry Out Charlie McCarthy,' publicity di- rector for Paramount who recently left for the Coasit, is no longer c6n.- nected .with that department, ills new. assignment-has to do with the scenario end of production, Par- amount-Publix having consolidated its publicity forces into one de- partment under Arthur Mayer. Other branches, of this company recently condensed include the the- atre music end, operating under Boris Morros; construction, main- tenance, and real estate, headed by C. R. Hammer with Morris Green- berg departing; traffic departments have all been combined undo Leo Flynh while personnel is now in charge of C. L. Stoddart since Jack Barry's departure. . Harry dpetz, assistant to Ralpli Kohh, meniber of the P-P board, is another withdrawal, from the or- ganization. Goetz has been check^ ing details of production for Kohn. ROGERS-SCHNITZER SET FOR INDIE PROD. Dantchenka Gets Chance Oil Second Importation Holly wood, Feb. 29, Wladmlr NeinrovichrDantchenka, 70-year-old founder of . the Moscow Art Theatre, win be reimported by UA t6 direct 'Brothers Karanzpff with Ronald Golmani Russ- director was brought over before by. United Artiists, and after idle on that lot was signed . over to Metro. There Ive was one of the army, working on 'World's Illusion, Jacob Wasserman dust-collector. Hays East in a Week . HoJiywopd, Feb. 29.': Will Hays may,return east with- in 'a weeic. '\Vlth Mrs. Hays and Maurice Mackenzie, his executive aide, the picture czar has spent two weeks QQ his lisual periodical visit. Radio's Prexy Tide While Ned 10. Depineti v. p. over dl.stributiori for RKO-Radio, will assume inost of the duties of the presidency following resignation of Joe Schnitzer, he will not take tlie proxy title. Whether anyone w-ill actually , assume the post Is unde- cided at this time. Setup will be Depinet, v. p., in charge of distribution; Jules Levy, general sales manager; Jiei-ry Saf- f)on, eastern divlaion manaK^'r, and Cresson L3. Smith, western div. mgr. Charleis B. Rogers left Friday (26) for Hollywood after confer- ences in New Ybrk on Independent pi'oduction setup and distribution outlet, with latter sought among several large majors. Kegotiations before leaving for west were begun with United Artists and RKO-Ra- dio, with latter regarded as most logical. In his independent producing ven- ture Rogers will have as his asso^ elate Joseph I. Schnitzer, riesigned RKO-Radio president, froni reports. Though Rogers denied this, he has been in conference with Schnitzer frequently and latter has indicated he will enter indie production. Beth have been living at the same hotel, thei Alden, in New ^Ybrk, ..while Rogers was here, arid'it is believed Schnitzer Avill follow to the coast wilhiri a^week Or two. ,: Prior to leaving Rogers began work on the first picture of eight he proposes to make, 'Madison Square Garden,' with shooting at the New York Garden and .balance of talker to be complete^'lb Holly- wood. Western headquarters prob- ably: at. the Universal Btqdlo, where liog'ers formerly produced^ inde pendently for Radio release. EXECS' VOYAGE PLANS HINT WB SHUTDOWN Burbank, Feb. 29, '. AVarncr .«itudio shut-down for April and May is indicated by plans of Mr. and Mrs. Darryl Zanuck to leave for Euroiie April 15, and pos- sibility that Jack Warner may send for Mrs. Warner and also voyage. Meantime ,the lot's scheduie is busj'. Studio had fivie features working last •week arid expects sta.rters to bring the "units to nini? this week. ' Twenty-one more .'are, listed for production, which means three must be started weelvly to clean up in April. ROWLAND IN CHARGE Michel, Griswold East, Until 8he« han'e Return • Hollywood, Feb. 29', W. C. Michel and Glen Griswold, Fox v.p.'s, head elwit Thursday (8) Michel's departure leaves Dick Rbwland temporarily In charge of the recently crfeated studio govern Ing board. Whether or not Row laiid is fllling this position perman- ently isv not. known but it Is as sumed tiiat he will remain on the dbast for some time, iat least until Wlnfleld Sheehan returns. Jamba R. Grainger. Miles mana ger, will remain at least two 'weeks longer to clean up the sMes end, li'ohlng Out next year's product plans before returnlhig to whoop ujp the sales conventions. REUTIVITY' TO BRING PACT ON EXTRAS Hollynropd, Feb. 29. , Central Casting Bureau,; swamped with - studio . 'requests' for specific extras, has obtained a general stu- dio agreement to hold their pre- ferred' list calls to . 26% of all mob orders. :■ ', ' ' Too much relativity In mobs, has been the complaint since studio re- trenchment started. Studios started preferred lists to help dropped em- ployes and tiielr families, but claim Is made that studlQ insiders are ringing in others. For Hays Tieup Meet Opposition Hollywood, Feb. 29. There lis a probability that the group of .independent producers who affiliated in the recently-formed Independent Producers association will join the Producers (Hays) as- sociation. ■ Since his arrival here for the an- nual Producers meeting,; Will Hays has had several confabs with the Indies along this . line, although there is opposition among some of the older nriajor execs to aligning themselves with the lesser pro- ducers. . Information Need Desirability of the Hays organi- zation membership for the indies is the censorship bogey, with the smaller operators figuring they are producing In the dark unless they are familiar with thie censorship views of the many state boards, which apparently is on tapis here only through the extensive work- ings of the Hays group. Aiming for first-run business arid not wishing to run Into wholesale cuts after' release, some Indies have recently been going to the Hays of- fice for advice on scripts relative to censorship matters. Information has been accorded them free, thus giving .the^ an equal setup infills regard with the major company members^ Eastern Agents Again Contemplate Coast Trek Coast defending agents are in for some competition from the Broad- way :10%ers who . are ogling the heavy sugar being cut up in tile studio sector. Recurring . repoHs of general stUdlo executive dissatisfaction with the agents in Hollywood is^an- olher opening wedge for the'lri- A'aders, who feci tiielr will, bring a sense of showmanshli) and legiti- macy into the business. Boleslavsky's Book Hollywood, Feb. 29. Richard Boleslavsky, itorincr Pathc dlrcctcr, is eastbound in con- nection witli a novel he h,^ written, 'Way of a Laiiccr.' : ■ Bobbs-Merill publishing find Lit- erary (Uilld has picked It as its March selection. . Writers Demand Studio Decision On Ethics Code Hollywood, Feb. 29. Serleig of conferences between writers and producers aiming at a code of ethics for scribblers having gone , into a desultory isitate, the writers have sent a 'put up or shut up* uitlmatum. to the producers, asking for'a yes or no within 10 days. Confabs, under the auspices of th« academy have been on and off for more than six months, and In their final stages have been meetings be- tween a sub sub-committee of two writers, Ralph Block and,piiver H. P. Garrett, and G^rge Cohen, at- torney, representing thie producers. No 'Progress.: Writers' reduced committee re- ported to its parent group that tho various questions are still In-tbe de- bating process, the larger commit- tee ordered a showdown. If this is not forthcoming, the parleys will bo closed. It is stated. Writers' demands that all seen- • ario employees not under contract should be given a two weeks' notice or could terminate services at a like period, is istill .pnscttled. .; Producers agree that, this could work for low salary scribblers, but are not pre- pared to grant it for higher priced writers. , ■ Producers are lukewarm on the clause that' a writer should be al- lowed to sit in on every conference pertaining to his stories. Similar indecision id reported on the demand that iany writer worli- ihg on a story should, be informed if another scribbler is put to work on the same yarn. Clause to eliminate the ganibling element in studio writing by free- , lancers is agreed to in part by the - producers. This has to do with the promise that free-lance authors en- gaged to write a story at a studio. shall be paid whetiier the story iS : accepted or turned down. This coii- cesslpn will be granted, it is ex-- pected, but with contingencies. Two-Writer Credits Producers will agree to eliminate the designation of 'continuity by,* 'dialog by* and 'adaptation by' in favor of the: demands for a limit of two-writer credits to a film. These would be in the form of 'screen play by.* Officials, however, have not conr ■ sehted that the, writer credits avHI be a part of the main title, but have shown Indications for a concession by giving them a spot on the screen alone, Immediately following tlie main title. EXTRA PUCEHENTS 4,369 IN BIC WEEK Hollywood, Feb. 29. Mob enjoyed its best week since November, with 4,369 . placements in six days, or an average of 724 working daily. Rush to clean .up production before tax-.nssessing day tomrorow (1) was responsible for the quantity of nftob work. Previous week showed the great- est activity in number , of units working since November. Peak was 3G features working Feb.. 3 5 with an average of 34 for the week. De- spite the increase in crowds used, last week, featur6s were down again to 28. Big day for the extras was Tues- day, when 1,019 paychecks were is- sued. Largest single set of ilie day was. 100 in a student rally for Huddle' at Metro. .La,rgest mob sets *were at Metro 'three other days: 109 in a bair- room scene winding up 'The .Wet Parade,' 107 iu a courtroom for 'Night Court;' and 76 In a dancphall. that opened 'Letty Lynton' Wednes- day. . Brandt-Zierler Joe Brandt, bought out of Colvim- bla, may build up another produc- tion company in association with. Sam Zierler, states right producer. Instead of building up th*»ir own distributipn system,* Brandt 'and Zierler most liicely will firs-t devote themselves to indie production with sales outlet through some other or- ganization..