Variety (Feb 1936)

Wefines^ay* February 5, 1936 P ■ C T VAltfETY OFF 100-200G HLMS WB Considers Releasing Its British Picts Here First Time, 'Cohen' to Lead tJp to now net teleasing its Eng- lish-made pictures in the Amej-ldan market, Warner Bros, may alter policies to send .this foreign-made product after U. S. coin. The first' Warner British-produced feature which is under consideration for national release on this side is 'Mr. Cohen Takes a Walk,' turned out by Irving. Ascher at WB's Teddlngton (England) studios. 'Cohen' has been booked for the Astor. N. T., to follow 'Soak the Rich' (Par)' khd may open at this pop first run Feb. 12; Meantime,, no decision is being reached as to American sale and distribution of the foreign-made film. Should Warner Bros, go after American rentals for It^ British- mades, it may be that the comtiany would pilot only certain of the. ap- proximate dozen.' pictures turned out. a;t the Teddlngton. plant, these, being those which would lend; them- selves to American consumption. . 'Mr. Cohen' is figured. as such a picture, since it is based on a Mary Roberts Blniehart novel published about a year ago, ai^ was directed by a Hollywoodiah, William Beau- dine, Paul Gret"., German, heads the cast. Color'$ Curse Hollywood, Feb. 4. First, to lose a picture part in th.e. advent of color photog- raphy is Lillian Elliott. Set for role In Pioneer's Technieplbred 'Dancing Pirate,' giri was dropped because color test brought out camera flaws in the physiog that remained obscured in the black and white process. PAR TALKING A NEW DEAL WITH DeMILLE Paramount is discussing a, new deal with Cecil B. de Mille which may be for one more picture, to b.e delivered this season, or for several. CJompany dqesn't want the producer to do either ipf the two pictures he had planned, "'Samson and 'Delilah' of 'Lite of Bulfalo Bill.' . This has led to discussions with de Milld on some' kind of a new deal to supplant his present contract which calls for one more this year. The first was 'Crusades.' Par went oiit to sell two de MlUes on tiie year. John E. Otterson, on the Coast at present, is In on the negotiations with de Mille. MPTOA Board Meet Set for Miami, Fla. Directors of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America will meet in Miami the latter part of this j lonth or early In March, but It will be strictly a board sessloUr and In no w-.y will supplant the usual an- nual, conyentlon. of membership, passed up for 1936. The confab v/Ul be an executive meeting of only the 26 board members. Ed L. Kuyke:idall, president of MPTOA, will be in N. Y, this week to arrange details of meeting and to attend to other business. Sid Rogell Vacates Col. Producer Berth Hollywood, F6b. 4. Sid Rogell will leave his producer berth at; Colunibia upon completion of 'Roaming Lady,' which Al Rogeli is, directing. ?;igures to make trip to Europe. He's; been at studio for nearly three years. Major Film Co/s Setup Washington, -Feb. 4. Offering of-20,000 shares of stock In Major Film Productions, Inc. Hollywood, was registered with Federal Securities & Exchange Commission Fast week. Delaware corporation Intends to distribute 16,000 shares of prellerred G% non-curnulativ6, dt $5 par, and 4.000 shares of common of equal worth in units of 4 preferred and 1 common at $25 for the'batch. Deal will be Iiandled through C, Wayne Oculil & Co., Los Angeles broker- af;e house. Fred Church, of Holly- woc'd, company prez. 'Dream' Roadshows In Small Pa. Towns Surprisingly Okay Ittsburgh, Feb. 4. Take for brief 'Midsummer Night's prearn'' roadshow engage*- ments in tri-state territory con- tinues ta amaize WB officials around h^re. Flicker, figured to be a tough nut to crack In smaller towns^ has been coming through. In great shape, rolling -Up unusual grosses practically everywhere; Despite sub-zero.weather here for last couple of weeks, 'Dream' marches on to huge profits. In Erie, It did cloise to $6,000 in six showings while Johnstown gave It $3,000 In five performances. In small Warren, Pa., Relnhardt opus got a $650 opening, considered sensational, and almost as much again In remaining twp iscreenlnigs. Management even got flock of :the natives there to get the soup and fish out, of mothballs for the premiere, In Itself pretty much of an achievement. Joe Feldman, advertising director for WB here, has been handling the advance build-ujp and exploitation on the small-town dates. The large exploitation and ad- vance corps on the road for 'Dream,' now that the high spots have been pretty well covered, will be con- siderably- curtailed after Feb. 16. The WB exploiteers have been cam- paigning the cultural, civic and other tieups for 'Dream* In Its sun- dry .key and lesser key cities show- ings ever since last fall. For the Miami premiere, Andy Smith, S. C. Einfeld, Mort Blumen- stock and others are sojourning soiith; DENT GEIS WB'S DREAM' AWAY FROM m COOPER Lincoln, Feb. 4. Warners 'Midsummer Night's Dream' is set In the L. L. Dent acer here, the Varsity, Feb. 7, a surprise move, considering the opposition Lincoln Theatres Corp. (J. H. Coop- er) has the general contract for both Warners and First National output. Dent also got the roadshowing for all its houses In Colorado. Hard pressed for film, Dent group Inter- prets.this,as a possibility that all or part of the Warner programs may become available to-them., As far as the local scene Is con- cerned, the Cooper theatres have been plugging 'Dream' for nearly three months. Patents Charges in 2 Suits vs. Par, Col. Los An.gelea, Feb. 4. Annie R. C. Owen has flied suits against Columbia and Paramount, alleging infringement of patents held by Mrs. Owen on inventions and impvovements in production of insets, fade-in, fadeoul, and dissolve effects. Complaints allege Inventions were patented- by William O, Owen and ueve willed to her when ho died. Seeks acooiintl'. g, dimags and in-, June Lion. ■LESS PICTS Miakes It Too Tough to Get Top^Bracket Rentals for th^ More Poteiit Product NO EXHIB GRIEF Metro bigwigs now on the Coast frbm the New York home ofllce .are forcefully, but diplomatically, In-- sistlng that studio eliminate cheaper grade pictures minus names from next season's production schedule. This takes In pictures costing from $100,000 to $200,000. .Distribution heads of Metro are telling producers they . T^ould pre- fer 35 pictures delivered to the 50 promised. They .claim exhibitors are taking advantage of the 'one-ln- 10*. cancellation clause and will In- sist on. full quota cancellation priv- ilege Instead of on what la actually delivered., Dlstrib execs also maliitaln that If the Motro studio continues to make ciieaper quality pictures, they cannot be expected to sell at the same rentals as other films on the schedule. • The cheap quality pic- tures, they aver, m^iist be sold at minimum rentals, with better cali- bre product getting rentals in pro- portion to costs and ' box .office values. One reason for the sqiiawlt Is the case of a Metro quickie whicb in one section alone drew 25% can- cellations, with picture losing aVound $66,OO0w The bOme oflice heads want no repetition of such cancellations beliig centered on aidy particular picture. Understood auditors from the. New York office were sent to the studio to work on costs, payroll, etc., in-order to give Nick Schenck and Lep Friedman ammunition to point out to studio heads the Importance of their con- tentions, BO that the distribution de- partment will be satisfied it can sell forthcoming product with as little resistance as possible. MIKE HOFFMAN BACK PRODUCING ON OWN Hollywood, Feb. 4. His deal to produce a minimum of six pictures for Republic completed, M. H. Hoffman swings back to the RKO-Pathe studio to make his own films under his old banner/JLIberty Pictures.. Republic arrangement also stipu- lated a maximum of 12 pictures, but Hoffman preferred to call It a day, as he was dissatisfied with studio operations under Nat Levlne. Pro- ducer will turn but group of six wltii his son, M. H. Hdffman, Jr., In charge of production. Stage Tabloids with Films No Co As Gross Builders Oh the Hear Ye! Hollywood, Feb. Robert Hopking has drgan-t ized his own Listener's Cliib. Will charge $5 each time he has to lend ear to a plot. ERPI ROYALTY FEES WITH PK "Washlngtpn, Feb; 4. Text of flrst Electric Research Products, Intf,, license agreement to be revealed In full to goyernnient- authorities 16 receiving oncerOver In connection with study of Loew's re- financing plans outlined Monday (3). to Securities and Exchange Com- mlssldti. Document,, one. of numerous ex- hibits included- to—throw—light—x>n- the company's .financial affairs, re- vekls a BOc-a-foot royalty charge on feature films and a 10c fee on newsr reels. Agreement is effective for IB years. ■ Loew's promised to pay a inlnl- mum of $100,000 annually for right to use Erpi recording and reproduc- ing equipment, document showed, and agreed . not to use any discs made on the apparisitus for broad- casting. Also promised not to make recordings' for films turnedi but by producers hot ilcensedl.' by Erpi and to. manufacture not more thari^five feature arid 12 short-recordings^fpt other companies using Evpl sy'^- tem. Basic' charge Is $600 a reel for features,. royalty belKg^'flKed by ther negative length of the film, regard- less of whether all or only part has sound accompaniment Any excess over 5,000 f^et, up to 200 feet. Is royalty free. Newsreel price is $l6o per reel. Contract specifies royalty of $100 for each 10-mlnute master record made for use Independent of a specific picture. Foreign license, requiring total royalties for world market equiva- lent to the domestic charge, is broken down, by countries, with price for England $100, Germany $50, Austrailasla $62.50, Central Eu- rope $35, France and Belgium $25r South America $40, Italy $15, Can- iada $75, Cuba and Mexico $7.50 each, Spain and Portgual $12.50, and Scandinavia; and Denmark $20. ZEIDMAN'S/AiraEIS' LEADS Holly wood, .Feb. 4. Tala Blrell and Ian Keith have been signed by Ben Zeldman for leads in 'Angels In."White,' produc- er's first picture for the Independent market. Karl Brown wrote the script, and will direct. 35,000 Vote in Detroit Poll and 34 Favor Continuance of Dual Pix Detroit, Feb. 4. Upsetting belief and hope of local exhibitors, double bills swept the patron poll Conducted by the Cohen Bros, in their six theatres during the past two weeks, final tabulation showing a rnore than 3-t()-l prefer- ence for duals. Tota.1 Vote ran close to 35,000, 26,395 favoring present dbuble-blll programs and only 8,303 asking return to former policy of single films and shorts. In only one.theatre, the all-nighter Rosy, which only recently went into duals, was the poll close, the vote being 4,-125 *for and 3.14^ against double-bills. Six houses, scattered well thrpughoiit town, bid ballot boxes in lobbies, and patrons were given ballot witli each ticket pur- chased. To prevent stuffing or du- plication, ballots required name and address besides providing space for remark.«{. Houses taking part in poll were the Roxy, Hollywood. Rio," Mayfair, Grand Victory and Norwood.' Present dual policy at all six the- atres will not be changed, said Ben Cohen, who, however, was surpi'lsed at the gteat amount of" interest evinced by fans In the. vote, but niore so to discover that double blU.s were in such strong favor. The Cohens were IncUnftd to believe sin- gle bills would win a clean-cut vic- lorj', he added. Los Angeles, Feb, 4. Fox-West Coast's.experiment wltli tab Versions of plays to supplemient double bills has fizzled after three- week tryout. Harry Garsspn.' manr ager of the Belmont, where, con- densed versions were tried out,, said the pubilc wouldn't I'espond, and grosses failed to lift. Bach show ran about 15 minutes longer than regular bill of , two pix and short subjects. Show changed each Saturday.. Players received salary and 50-.50 cut ori' take after house had cleared its nut. First tab, 'The Bad Man^' gar- nered around $3,000; "The Faiiilly Upstairs,' $3,100, and 'Whistling Iri the Dark,' featuring Tlffiriy Thayer, the author, reaped close, to $3,000. Another experiment tried out at the WUshlre thea,ti*e In Santa Monica, showing, thre^-act -comedy^ 'Give Till It Hurts,' alonff with.One, picture, also proved, a .floppo. Take for week .was airoUnd: $3,000; Robert E, Wells, manager, said entertains ment tempo was too slow for hl^. patronage. . Wells reverted to former policy of ieature i>ldture and six acts; of vaude over the week ends sLind straight pix during the week. AUe'S WASH. CONFAB FOR ANTIBIOCK BILL? Designated board oj " directors' confab of Allied In "VVashineton this week is expected to be aitmded by 40 to SO exhibitors afflliat<Sd. trtth the organization. R^asoit is that, the seven; directors of regular , board [each ; ,are^; expected to Jbrliig alo'hg seyoral other Allied members, it be-. Ing suggested that each one Invite at leasL^gyen to; AceiunpanjifiiDo to the natioHal- capl^l. ' It l9 no secret that Allied mefn- jtiers At this conference; will cOncen* trate in drtimmlng up Interest in tiie Pettenglll anti-block book bill. Re- cently, lack of Congressional sup- port . for the. .me.asure has b>een source of considerable tvoiry to Allied membeirshlp aiid other trade associations; according to reports reaching N. Y, CoL Wins Disimssal.of A StacklHilder's Suit Justice Lydon In N. T- Supreme Court on Monday (13) dismissed the suit brought by Johh Loeb, stock promoter, against Columbia^ Pic- tures Corp., In which he alleged fraudulent practices by the> latter's board of directors and demanded an accounting 'of certain Colunibia stock distributions. Court's action followed a motion for dismissal ott the ground of Inc^ufliciency which was made by the film -compahy'ji counsel, Nathan Biirkati. Loeb, owner of |60,00a worth of Columi)ia warrants, charged that the dlrcictors of the company had prevented him from taking; advan- tage of stock pui-chase. Options which the warrants permitted hini. Columbians .rejoinder, was. that „tbe. directors had .at no time refused Loeb the right to exercise his op- tion, but that Ijoe-b himself .was re- rniss in allowing these warrants to expire. HAMMETT'S $661 jtD&MENT Hollywood, Feb. 4i Reliance Productions has obtained a judgment of $661 against Dashlell Hamrh6tt, writer. Company complained writer failed to return $2,000 advance as binder on a contract for dellvf'ry of story. SCIEGAIFEE BACK AT UA Hollywood. Feb. 4. Jack Schlalfer returns to United' Artlst.s as assistant to Arthur Kellyv sales manager. Rec'?ntly resigned as distribution head of B, F. Zeldman productions,