Variety (Sep 1935)

•vABncTTtr LONDON ornoB, • S^ : VNitU'B PIa««^ Tnttalgar Squiw INTERNATIONAL NEWS Telephone Temple Bur BM1<B042 Cable AddresK: VARIKTY. I.ONnON 13 LO NDON TALENT SHORTA GE 7- ■ ■■ ■ ^ ■■ ■ — ■ ^ ^——^ ^ Tax on Dubbing and Theatre Quota Now Loom m France, Part of Decree i^Ier, Racked by Parts Bankers, Paris . Sept, 8. With a tax oh dubbing looming aa a possible part of the new French film regime, secret hearings were continued all week at the Ministry of National Education on the decree- laws which are to piut picture busi- ness here under Government super^ ylsipn. This tax, plus a quota of 30% of French Alms to be shown by the theatres^instead of a quota on im- portation—are the chief dispositions regarding foreign pictures of the proposed decree laws in their pres- ent status. But the project Is still liquid and under consideration, and It may be completely changed before It sees the light. These two features, however, are enough to keep American represeh- tatives here worried as to what Is going to happen to their business. . Froln other angles, the decree- laws, as they are now being worked ' , do not seem to be as disturbing to American biz :>ere as they at first appeared. For one thing, the scheime for collecting film rentals directly at theatres through a gov- erhmeht agency, seems to be under- going sdtne .modification. At first the Americans feared that their rentals would get into the hands of, a French collection agency, •which might keep them Indefinitely and*^ perhaps use them as the basis of credits to the French Industry, tvlth ;whom accounting would be dif- ficult and which, might charge a fee for the collections. It does not now appeal-: that this will be the.case. As tlte^ decree laws are, , being worked out they tend toward the creation of an agency which will pay rentals as soon as collected, or else toward a mere checkup on receipts rather than collection. Object is to prevent exhibs from cheating. Also, it does not now look as though the position, of distribs under the decree-law regime will be as bad as was thought' at first. There seems to be no attempt to ofilcially route each picture. In the requirement that French theatres show 30% local mades there Is a chance that special provision will be made for the hpuses which specialize in foreign language pic- tures. Seems likely thiat the trade will be able to convince the bureau- crats that to show French pictures would ruin the business of a fiouse whose customers are accustomed' to coming in for American or German p|otui;es only. There are 15 or more such spots in Paris. One of the film code provisions now being contemplated which may affect Paramount is a clause forbid- ding distributors from having any financial interest in production. Par, as- well as Tobis, is sponsoring a certain amount of local production this year, and this apparently would be tabooed. Hard; to tell, however, whether' Paramount would be sorry or glad at the ban. Advocates of the film decree-laws hope to get them through in 10 days or so. They will have to be okayed by nearly .all the government de- piartnients, for most of the ministries will have a hand in enforcing some feature or another. That will occa- sion some delay in Issuance and there may be no final ruling for a month and a half. BIP and Donada Both Bid For BeBtley's 6 Houses London, Sept. 17. Reported here that John Maxwell (British Intcrnatlona.v Picts) made a firm offer for eight picture thea- ters, of which Walter Bcntley, re- cently deceased, was managing director. Houses Include two in Folkestone and one each in Hast- ,lngs, Nottingham, Eastbourne and Stbckton. iDonada circuit has also made a purchase offer and as this circuit is financed by Amery Parkes, also behind the^ Bentley chain, it is fig- ured that Donada's bid Is likely to be the one accepted. Few U. S. Pi ; 'Forsaki 'Chan' Okay and Stockholm, Sept. i5. New. season started here with Warners 'Golddiggers of 1935' at the China theatre. Got a mild reception and played to less than average business less than two weeks. 'Six- Day Bike Ride' (WB) was released at the Skandla theatre. Lasted only one week and was switched over to one of Svensk Film Industrl's small- est second-niii theatres. Paramounnt opened the seai^on with 'Hold 'em Yale,' which got a terrible panning by the press artd no coin at the b.o. 'Clian in Egypt' (Fox) was held over a second week at the Skandla. 'Forsaking all Others' (MG) Is ia success here.. Played four weeks at the Red Mill. Riviera opened with 'Let's Liye Tonight,' (Col) with personal appclarance of Tulio Car- minati, who happened! to be in Stockholm on a visit. ,Tust okay. •Devil Dogs of the Air' (WB) was released at the Palladium and taken off iafter only nine days' run. Last Cuban Theatre Switches to Films; Actors' Assn. Protests Havana, Sept. 17, A desperate fight is being put up by the local actors' association on behalf of their last stronghold, which Is going films soon, accord- ing to plans of the owners. The Union de Actores Teatrales has gone to the dailies with its plight, trying to rouse public senti- ment against the turning of the Marti Theatre to pix. Marti Theatre, oldeyt house in town, has been showliirtr stock at popular prices for the past four years. Since the closing of the Al- hambra Theatre, it has been the only standby of the local actors. Al- bambra is nov/ bejng rebuilt into a film house to be known as Alcazar. FOR ymiK ACTS BOND SCREENING RULE RUES PARIS DISTRIBS Paris, Sept. ,8. Distributors' association and the Chambre Syndlcale, usually at swords' points, have united in let- ters of protest to the customs ad- ministration against ruling which I'equires importers leaving films in bond to screen ;tlieir pictures in cus- toms house, instead pf letting them take the film to their own projeclidn roohis, as heretofore. Besides the enormous nuisance in- volved in taking prospective clients to customs hou.<ie, there's expense involved. Customs, which is run by local Chamber of Commerce, charges $8.60 to use its room for the first h; ur, and $3.30 for every half hour thereafter. No firm can, show more than 9,000 feet at a se.ssion, and if the film is longer, or If company wants to show another film, a new special authorization must be sought. Including extras, such as papers to be filled out and time lost, it is figured that first hour's projec- tion costs about $15, Projection room is open from 8 to 12 a.m. and 2. to 6 p.m., and it shuts, down right on the dot of 6. If a pic- ture Is not finished at closing time, you h ve to come back the ne^t day. G-B REJOINS K.BS. London, Sept. 17. After quitting the. Klnematograph Renters Society sftme four years ago, Gaumont-Brltlsh is now un- derstood to be resuming its mem- bership shortly. Jeffrey Bernerd Ik likely to he the company's rep in the organization when the move goes through. American Chorines Re- booked by Whitley-^OT*t Ban Dropped—No Open- ing Shows for Cafe de Paris^ Ritz or Mayfair CONTINENTAL ACTS London, With tlie London cabaret season now approaching, managements are getting panicky at the paucity of talent, particularly from America. Dorchester hotel opening is due Sept. 19, with only novelty the re- turn of the 'Hollywood Beauties' chorus, priginally told to go, but who, after protracted negotiations by Clifford Whitley; have been al- lowed to remain. Whitley is also bringing over a couple of Hungarian comics he discovered during a re- cent continental tour. At tile Grosvenor house,. Felix Ferry is bringing in an entire Vien- nese outfit. Cafe de Paris is encountering trouble with its opening star. Mar- tlnus Poulsen rebooked, Gertrude Lawrence, who made a big hit there 6u her- last visit, and she was due Sept. 11, but the star claims she cannot appear, as she is rehearsing in a new play. There are legal threats, but so far Poulsen has no opening attraction. Mayfair hotel's new cabaret will be 'Jardln Fieurs,' on the styJe of the Casino, Cannes. Everything is ready for the garden, but no acts. Only one signed is Edwin Styles to m.c., providing he can get permis- sioh .to double from the' Walter Haickett show at the Apollo. Next real policy here, starts Oct, 3. when the Mayfair will convert part of its grill room into a Scandi- navian restaurant. For this purpose Henry - Sherek Is bringing over a Scandinavian artist to entirely re- decorate the room in the same manr ner as the Lorry In Copenhagen. Two Scandinavian cooks will also be imported. But so far nothing in the way of talent has been set. Two other spots, which are looked after by Sherek, are badly in need of attractions. These are the. Carl- ton hotel and Ritz hotel. Carlton opens Sept. 30 with Vic Oliver and party. So far the only one of the party available is Vic Oliver. Ritz has nothing booked yet, although the opening date is Oct;' 1. Meanwhile the wires to America are being frantically utilized, aii .qcreecliing for talent. Bliys Control m Pathe-Natan Filins --CtEAREO- Wedekihd's Aryan Ancestry Okayed After 2-Year Ban on Plays- Berlin, Frank Wedekind's pure Aryan descent to the sixth geheraition (three over arid above thei official demand) has . just been proven by his widow Tilly and Herr Professor Adolf Bartiels. It took two whole years to collect the necessary data. Meantime legit fought shy of Wede- kind's plays. Though the author died in 1918, his supposed remark tha:t his mother had a drop of Jewish , blood, started the pedigree hunt. French Trade Paper Burned Because Toor' French Pic Set m N. Y. Pa,rls, Sept, 11. In contrast with the usual action of the French trade press, which hoots with glee when a local made gets a New Tork screening, the 'Cinematographie Francalse,' leading mag, squeals this week on learning that 'Charlemagrne' is to. be shown at the Cinema de Paris, N. Y. Over the signature of M. CoUn Reval. Its editor-ln-chlef, the weekly says that the pic will cast' discredit on French production, and blames Henri Dlamant-Berger and Robert Hurel for, haying placed it In America. Compares It with 'Marie des An- goisses,' film which the French Inr dustry sent to the Venice expo and which rated hisses there. -r--:- •-—Papisr-Sept—lTh—- Robert backed by local bankers, has bought the stock of Bernard Natan in Pathe-Natan, getting an absolute majority and thus becoming the biggest magnate in Frencii fil Dlrler e..:pects to call a stock- holders meeting to taike oyer early in October and will probably be voted. president of the firm at that time. This is independent of court action against the Natan brothers, Bernard and Emile, which was started by Dlrler. as a small stock- holder and which is still pending. Dlrler led the long fight against the Natans which (Eventually resulted in the brotheirs being indicted and 0. government official being put In temporary charge of the company. Move is likely to prove a con- siderable break tp the U. S. fllmers here since Natan always considered Americans as his Competitors and was always fighting them., Dlrler, on the other hand, has consistently talked cooperation -with the Yanks. Hungarian Producers Protest Shoestringers Budapest, Sept. 7. Several Hungarian film producing firms of established standing are putting in a protest, addressed to the Film Fund, supreme authority governing production in this coun- try, against extending privileges to indie producers with insufficient financial background. Claim that these newcomers start production With little capital, get stuck during the first week or so and continue work on loans from small exhibitors, who in this way can purchase cheap and inferior product at very low cost. This makes them reluctant to buy the established pro- ducers* better class and hiore ex- pensive, fil 3d Russ Theatre Festivai Starts; 51 American Show Reps Attend PARIS LIBRARY OF SILENT PIX Paris, Sept. 11.. Move to collect classics of s'lledt film, put them together in a library and show them from time to time is afoot here. Promoters put CUaplin pictures In the front rank of foreign product they'd revive, following with the 5rlc von Stroheim films. Others in- cluded would be pictures by Fritz Lang, D. W. Griffiths arid Cecil de Mille, Couple of Bill Hart westerns would rate selection, and so would some Mack Scnnetts. Also Lubitsch's 'Lady Windermere's Fan.' Of the French films, the Rene Clair pix and a number of Max Linder comedies would rate selec- tion, and also 'Paris Sleeps,' 'The Wheel,' 'Thcrese Raquin,' 'The Image,' 'Faithful Heart' and 'Span- ish Holiday.' Figured that 50 films, out of all the years of silent production, would be sufficient to show the worthy, high spots. SWEDISH FILtt CREW OFF TO SO. AMERICA Moscow, Sept. A 'Sadko* through which hun- dreds of choristers, dancers arid mummers .sauntered, launched (he Third Annual Theatre Festival and the 1935-36 theatre season here to- night at the Bolshoi theatre. Orchestra pit of the splendid gilt, red plush and crystal opera house held some 300 foreign visitors to the festival when the orchestra struclc up the 'Internationale'; 51 from the U. S., including Morris Ge.st, Gilbert Miller and John H. Hanimond, Jr.; 60 from England, 26 from Czechoslovakia, 24 from Holland and smaller groups from 14 other lands. Extending over a 10-day pefiod, festival will show the visitors 15 plays, practically all of which were revival.'! from last season. No now shows are on the program, Mos- cow's earliest first night being slated for the end of Oct. Visitors win see the high spots of the Red capital's 1934-35 sea- son, ranging from the Realistic theatre's production of Pogodin's 'Aristocrats,' a pretty ordinary piece about the moral reclamation of Soviet criminals through Soviet construction, made Important by the brilliant staging of Okhlopkov. to Director Nemirovich-Danchen- ko's robust and gusty 'Katerlna I/.- mallova' (children under 10 not per- mitted), D. D. Shostakovich's novel Soviet opera, and the Gypsy the- atre'.s realistic 'Carmen,' Also the Kamernl theatre's much discu.s.spd 'Egyptian Nights,' ba.scd on what Shakespeare, Pu.shkin and Shaw hud tp say about Cloopatraj An- thony and Caesar. ; Shakespeare will also be repre- sented, in the Yiddish theatre's 'King Lear.' ' Stockhoi Sep^. «. Financed by private capital, a seafaring expedition has left here to produce a film in the Argentine. M, Kronlund, engineer,, heads the group and Stig Almquist, film critic- for Veckojournalen, directs cast headed by Ernst Eklund and Anna Lindahl. Europafiim will release. Story concerns a stolen document on a coffee plantation In South America. Majorlt, of scenes will be shot oh thc'water, remaind' In and around Rio de Janeiro. Two lead^ are taken from local legit. Male is manager of the Kom- edl theatre, fernnie comes from Dra- matic theatre. Best of cast are Bror Bugler, Gunnar Bcrgcndahl, Ilslnor Tronim, and Viveka Erlslng. Ten- tative title for film iM 'Rio Rio Rio.' U. S. pix in Germany Berlin, Sept. 8.. During the last quarter (April, May, June) America was again le.id- irig as rejrard.s number of films ad- mitted into the country under the cohtlngeht system; 18 American films against four English arid tliroe I'Yench. ■' Two American lllms failed to please the censor and were pro- hibited.