Variety (Aug 1932)

WABIBTT'S'' rOKDOK OFFICE. S St. Mniiln's M., Tr«fal(»r S«. Cabls Addr«M: VARIETT, LONDON, Tempi* Bar g041-0<HB FOREICNt FILM NEWS •VABIEIT'S" PARIS RETBEBENTATIVE. B5 Rue Nolle* |jf Cable Address:« VABINEW8, PARIS, Marcadet 72-M * * By Eric Gore 4— Sydney, Aug. 1. Ruihora that Western Electric In- tends tq vacate the Australian fleld are denied here by W. E. It Is ex- plained that W. E. has a 101-year contract with every . exhibitor .equipped with its wire; British Pictures Within the papt few weeks Brit- ish pictures have- made large in- roads into all theatres, and: playing ace houses oC the big chains to fair- ly good grosses. It's winter ' here now. ,' ■ ■ Hoyt's Theatres, Ltd., announces It will bring Bfltlsh production's into: each of Its long-run houses in key cities. Arangements ' recently con- Bummated with BIP. ' Greater Union Theatres has screened. British fllm for some time, and Fullers also en- tered the Held by playing them in most all its theatres. Marked improvenient by the Eng- lish producers in . their later pic- tures wsts assured an Australian market for them. • MENJOU'S FOREIGN FILMS Showing B«nned Play First produced In if^w York in '2S iand banned,. "Maya" will be pro- duced here this week, by Scott Alex- ander and his band of semi-pros. Police also, prohibited- the piece here, but AleztMider will do the pro- duction in . hid tittle theatre, really a small churich situated in the com- mercial section. No charge for adhilssion,' and ientree can only, b^ had via Invi- tation. All those'who attend are eL.pected to subscribe about ^1 to the Sydney Repertory Society*. - Sydney Big Okay Some nice business being turned In by current attractions playing the key cities^ In Sydney 'Bitter Sweet' is a decided smash for W. T., and Ernest Rolls is flhlshing up a Ave .weeks' season- with the 'Big Show.' 'flappy and Qlorious' did a quick flop, but 'Man Who Played God' (Mm) clicked for live weeks for Hoyts and 'Old Vienna* ('Congress Dances') will teplace. 'Letty L,yn- ton' looks a winner and 'Blue Dan- ube' has four weeks chalked up and fltlll going, strong.. 'Symphony of Six Millions' (film) was movod to another house, but failed to -pulU Great business for (Continued on pag9 46) m RELEASING BFS SiUW FILM IN ENaANb Iiondoh, Aug. 29. Metro has taken over the British release of the British International feature,. 'Arms and the. Man,' made from the Q. B, Shaw- play of that nahie. . Transaction constitutes a prece- dent ais the first BIP subject to go Into British release under the au- spices of an American organization. It is understood Metro has a finan- cial Interest in the production. BIP makes Metro's quota pictures. Hotef London Spot Shifts, Palac€ Maybe London, Aug. 29. Arrangements for the twice dally kun of 'Grand Hotel' at the Hippo- drome fell, through at the " last minute. It is understood now that nego- tiations are pending for spotting the feature at the Palace starting around Sept 20,;following the clos- ing at that house of 'The Cat and the Fiddle,' Sept, 17. I TT^A. SELLS NEAS EAST United Artists has completed a new deal with Ophlr Films for Egypt and vicinity. Ophlr will dis- tribute a minimum of seven U. A. films in that territory during the next year. Ophlr has handled U. A. product in Egypt on several occasions in the past Brussels News Cinemais Brussels, Aug. 20. Brussels will shortly have its first new-reels-only cinema. The former Splendid clncnia, neat the North station, which lias had an up-and-down existence, is being remodeled. MaJ^ Herron's' Round Trip Major Frank Herron, head of the foreign department In the Hays or- ganization, returned yesterday (20) to the New York office after a month's stay in Hollywood. Herron made the round trip by air. On» In French For Ufa—Maybe Anothier For Gaumont Adolphe Mehjou will make a pic- ture in French, wbiile. abroiad. for Ufa and will possibly do one In England for Gaumont. He sailed Tuesday night (23) and plans being away about three months. On return to the States Menjou will do additional stories in the Thatcher Colt detective series for Coluihbia of which 'Night Club Lady,' current at Paramount, New York, is the first- . Menjpu has been free-lancing for the past yiear. NEAR DEAL U Maurice - Ostrer and. William Geri, directors of Oaumont-Brltlsh, ar- rived in New-York, Sunday (28). Oiie of tbeli* first moves yesterday (29) morning was to get in touch with Universal Us regards a prod- uct deal. Cell and : Ostrer haive been au- thorized in Liondon to bid-for the British distribution of Universal product This would guarantie Unl- versal release through Britain's biggest circuitj save U overhead in Britain and probably increase its British .turno ver. Gaumont-British controls . three distribution houses and is notori- ously short on product. Even should its deal iiirith Fox straighten out. for 100% Fox service in Britain, the company figures to be in better shape - by addltldn of Universal's films. This is especially true In the light of the new deal made by United Artists with British & Do- minion for y. A. distribution of the latter company's films. D. & D. pic- ture's were previously handled by G-B. Understanding in trade circles is that Carl liaemmle Is definitely in- terested in the cleal iand it's merely a matter of coming to tetuiSii -. Par Dubbing Spanish Fihns in JomviBe Paramount is goiife back to Span- ish dubbing agslin, the work to be ^one in Joinvilie. Scheduled for immediate treatment this way are 'Shanghai Express,' 'The Man I Killed,' 'World and the Flesh,' and 'This Js the Night.' iParamount's idea is that dubb'.>g has improved technically to the ex- tent where Spaniards may now ac- cept it, although they haye been vigorously opposed to it in the past. In Spain it's a matter of customer objection. Par thinks this can be straightened out under new condi- tions. For the rest of the Spanish- speaking market, outside of Spain, the same picture will be released with. ordinary super-imposed titles as in the past. Two Spanish Musicals )With Rosita Moreno Hollywood, Aug. 29, Fox has given Rosita Moreno a contract for six Spanish pictures. She will be first with Jose Mo- jlca in 'Dick Turpln,' and next op- posite Raul Roulien. Both are mu- sicals. New agreement starts. Sept 1, Smith Sails for Film Survey of Australia ' IjOS Angeles, Aug. 29. _ Cre.ssoh Smith, a .division sales- manager for iladio, sailed fi:om San Pedro Wednesday (24) on the Mari- posa, for Australia. , He win spend several months in the Antipodes and the Orient, on. a survey of exchanges and theatres for Ned Deplnet general salesman- ager. He made a similar triii for United Artists seven years ago. SITE FOB MEZ. STUDIO Mexico City, Aug.~ 26. Another native film enterprise has • been organized here. It is headed by George L. Stahl, Mexican capitalist, and la reported to have financial backing. Company has purchased a tract of land for a studio site. Stahl says he win leave soon for the U. S. to get tcclinlclans and Bound equip- ment. Proposes to get into action' about Oct 1- %iL Producers May Seek to Cut Can's Costly Ce^ Toronto, Aug. 29. . British film producers will prob 4bly seek a revision of Canadian censorship costs which they deem to be too .high, according to Col John;. A. Cooper, president of the Motion Picture Distributors' Asso- ciatiph of Canada. Although rfepresentatlves of the British film Industry did not seek a qiiota. It Is und<u:stopd. that they did recommend closer co-operation between Em(>lre'film producers and the censorship boards of the vari: ous dominions.with a view to miti- gating cuts in BiltlBh pictures. Colonel Cooper pohita out that In no. British country, siave Canada, is there more .thiain one board of cen- sors. In Canada there are eight one* for each province. _He-4idded that one pr'ovincial ^oard had con demned 11% of British plcturefl submitted to it laat'year. 'In Ontario, the- fee for censoring a British-picture la .121,'..he said. 'The calculated , cost of cepsoring a seven-reel British picture for iexhi bitlon throughout CansidaV'would amount to°)163, compared to 126-^ $36 in any other British country. , I think the-picture producers feel-that there should be^ 'some negotiations with the.provinces.' ,, . NATIVE-MADES SUBSIDY TALKED OF IN MEXICO - Mlexlco City, Aug. 26. . Screen nationalistic move, which has resulted In boosting to. all but prohibitive proportions import levies on aU nontSpanlsh films and discs and establishment here of a native' production company, is now- being supported by organized com' merce throughout the country. Confederation of Mexican Cham .bera of Commerce has drafted a resolution that will be acted upon at its , national convention here Sept. 10 to 14, urging Federal, govemnient to continue Its natidhaliistlo policy and bar out pictures in foreign lan- guages atid alien to M<&xican cus toma a-nd viewpplritSi/ > ! While organization admits that It is not easy to down .the supremacy in this field of imported pictures, especially • Amerlcaii» something more can be done about giving Mexican and Spanish language pro- diictlona more breaks. ' Expected that something like a government subsidy .ma:^ be. urged at the forth- coming national conclave. . Mexico t^ersoiials foT Simhish Version Player Hollywood, Aug. .29. Ramon Pereda, who has been ap- pearing in 'William Powell, Charles Bickford and Itewis Stone parts In Spanish pictures, will do four week pers6nal appearance tour lin Mex- ico. Booked by Llchtlg and Ehg- lander.' ". ■ - . ■ . Opens Sept. 6 In Mexico City. BELGIAN HOHE-HASE tBT Brussels, Aug. 20. Another attempt at Belgian film production is being miade, with M. Charles Kurlandsky, of Ufa, as pro- ducer. . Title is 'La Dame do Minuit' and meterage about 2,500. Cast Is: all- Belgian'. A studio In Brussels is being used, exteriors shot in Madrid and San SebasMan. SELLING EAST DIRECT. United Artists has opened an ex- change in Manila. Eddie Ugast, for- merly in the Paramount foreign de- partment, is in charge. U. A. was previously represented in Manila by a, local distributor, but decided, after investigation by Ugast, that it would be best to han- dle directly, .. . United Artists Bids for British Markets by Col^ ONE MORE HARVEY UFA After Film With Veidt, Star Heads for Fox Coast Lot Juan-les-Plns, Aug. 29. Lillian Harvey is here resting up for a fortnight, having finished the British version of Ufa's 'Blonde Dream' in London,- From here she goes back to Berlin to do her last Ufa' film, playing op- poETlte Conrad yeidt. . Immediately on. ioiicrusion of this otie she .lfeaves for Hollywood and the Fox lot. CANADA INDIES BAND IN FILM Ottawa," Aug.; 29. "The battleground for the film business in the Dominion over the questibii of - new taies and tariff- revlsions-directly affecting the in- dustry will be Ih Otta.Wa before and during the next session of the Fed- eral Parliament scheduled to *be called early in October. Details of changes will not be made known until. Parliament sits and various interests are calling for. the Parlla;; mentary gathering as soon as pos- sible so that business will know where it stands. . The Imperial Conference proposal for a special levy;on all, foreign films as an aid for British pictures and for additional re-vfehue. is what has the film 'men -agitated. It is prothis^ed th4t the Canadlaii com panics handling U. S. 111ms and the exhibitors will unite in protesting against the tax on forelga celluloid which will be assessed agalnat ren- tal charges. Incidentally, the ex- hibitors will have to foot the new bill, which will run to $250,000 in the aggregate, it is expected, be- cause the rental agreenient in force provides that all or any new taxes will automatically be charged to the theatres. Intimation has been made that steps will be taken at once by the film trade to cbmbat'^e pro- posed foreign film rental tax before it reaches Parliament because It would become immediately effective if it is included in the budget ireso- lutlon before the House of .Com- mons. Word has been given that Cana- dian exhibitors will not oppose any niove on the part of the Dbmihlon Governrtient to give added t)refer- ence or even free entry to Brltlst^- films—as proposed by Canada at the conference; The exhibitors have also stated that they will hot object to free censorship for British films on the part- of .provincial govern- ments in Canada. They gay they will accept anything but a quota system or a new tax to be. footed by thfr exhibitors who claim they are already being taxed out of exist- ence. The word has been spoken that Canadian distributors and exhibi- tors will work hand in hand against the foreign film tax. At the same ' (Continued on. page 46) United Artists and Colunibla have* finally agreed on terms for a Brit- ish combine. Offices of the two companies will be merged and U. A. will handle the distribution of i>roduct for both .companies in the British territory. Papers have been drawn up but 'not .j^igned, pending a gel-together of Jos. M. Schenck and Harry Cohn. Similar deal, in negotiation for about a year for the South Ameri- can territory, has been dropped by mutual consent because the two companies couldn't see eye-to-eye on what was needed down thar. U. A.-^Columbla deal going through means that United Artists becomes about the most important distribut- ing concerns in Britain. Company'a. own product, added to the Columbia films and the British and.'Dominions pictures, through the deal copipleted. Wednesday (24), means that-U. A, will have a fairly. formidaUie. list of .product. The B. & D. deal, glvea U. A. distribution rights on iaU the British company's pictures through- out th'e world. While Ui. A. has world- rights on all - the B. & Di films, only a Very few ,Of them will be released In the United VStatesf first being 'Magic Kigfht' with jack Buchanan. ." ThriMi More Opt in M-G Foreign Version Dept Culver City, Aug. 29. Although- proceeding with Ita scheduled foreign production slate .awaiting arrival here of Arthur Lbiew, and an. expected decision to half all verslpnlng, Metro continues to'drop personnel from -this depart- ment:. . ■. • . ^ . Latest outs are Paul Beaumont, Bernard Deroux and Robert .Harari. French writers. * Options, of-several of Ita 25. for- eign players now -Under contract are coming lip within .next two weeks. It , Is expected several'Of these wlU be allowed to lapse-•. . Currently in prbdttdtlon are tho German 'Grand Hotel,' French 'Re- ducing' and Italian ■'Strange Inter<« lude.' ■ .. > Prague Reports Native ^ . Mades on the Increase Prague, Aug. 18. Cfreat activity is noted in the^pro- dudtlon of native-made Czech films.; Marc Eric is at work on 'Sister An- gelica.' Tije leads are played by Susanne Marville and Hugo Hass. The plot develops partly in a mon- astery and partly in an adjacent prison. Innemann, the .Prague fllm regis- seur,, is turning out 'The Songster* with the^ well known Prague humor- ist and singer, Karel Hasler (a for- mer brother-in-law of the American composer, Frimi), in the leading role. -The fllm deals with tho Czechoslovak revolution. M. Binovec is now finishing 'Pe- pina Rejholcova,' and 'Red Rails'. Music for the latter is composed by John Gollwell and W, Sperger and J. Rovensky will appear in the lead« ing roles. Third Mexican-Made Meijco City, Aug,-'26. National Picture Co., Mexican en- terprise which began operations here 10 months ago and haa two pictures to its. credit, is completing a third, 'A Life for a Life,' | Picture is a Mexican drama, star- ring Nancy Torres; Sciiieduled for a premiere here Sept. 14. It Tvas written by .Tohn'H, Auer, who came from Hollywood to direct the pro- duction. Argentine Trick Exchange Buenos Aires, Aug; 20. Exchange control strict as ever, though jnovie-men invariably prom- ised plenty dollars next week. Bootleg dollars at $4.75 Arg. Bank rate $3.78. SSS's London Branch Supreme Screen Service plans a branch trailer office in London. Company awaits the arrival of Maurice J. Wilson, from London, before closing any deal. Paris Extras Riot farls, Aug. 20. The police reservea had to be called to turn out ah Infuriated mob of extras attempting to stop a priw. vate sh6wing of a new Opera. Film production,. 'La Voix Qui Meuzt* ('The Voice That Failed"), shown at the Saiie. Gaveau, : a Paris con- cert hall. Story is that of a con-c cert artist whose, voice dies. . Toi save money on production, the di- rector had arranged to shoot a con-, cert scene In the Gaveaii hall dur- ing a free concert, thua saving the expense of a mob, which extras re-, sented. Paris press printed the storyj wrongly, insisting that the disturb- ance was due to employhient in tho fllm of foreign performers. 7 That was not the case. . Buying 'for Singapore Marcus Baker, head of Alhambrs Theatres of Singapore, l6 due in ' New York in about two weeks for his bi-annual buying spree. He's now somewhere in Europe en route. Baker is the only real opposition In that territory for .^oe Fisher'* Capitol Theatres, .. _.