Variety (Jun 1938)

Wedaesday, June 1, 1938 PICTURES VARIETY I UA Sales Meets This Month; Doc Giannini's Pact; Schaefer's Deal TO United Artists partners and Dr. A. H: Giannini are still huddling oh the latter's future status in the com-, pany. Possibility is that Giannini w!ll retire froih the firm. Tills was discussed during the con- clave of the company's bigwigs, on the Coast recently; , United Artists will hold two re- gional sales meetings, first 6t which begins at the Waldorf-Astoria, New York, June 13, and will run Ave days. Second is to be held in Chicago, • four-day session. George J. Schaefer, James Mulvey and Murray Silverstone, UA execs, are back in New York after a couple of weeks of Coast huddle with, com- pany producers and owners. Company's program will be larger than the previous year, in- cluding alms from Samuel Goldwyn, David O. Selznick, Alexander Korda, Hal Roach, Walter Wanger and Ed- ward Small. Program is expected to total 30 pictures. Schaefer has a new ftve-year con- tract as V.p. in charge of sales for UA. Under the pact, which will be Iniced at the sales convention in New York, Schaefer will have chargis of distribution. in, America. Murray Silverstone, chairman of the executive; committee of United Artists, may sail for London around June 15, after the company's regional sales ifieeting, to be held at the Waldorf-Astoria gets under way two days earlier. He is going to bring back his wife and family to the' States, and to arrange his London business to At in with his. permanent stay in the States. While in London, Silverstone will confer with Alex- ander Korda. Silverstone will make his Arst of- ficial attendances at the sales meet- ings in his new'executive capacity. The Arst two days of th^ UA con- vention will be devoted to open treetings - of the entire sales force, while the three following days will be given over to individual meetings of groups with Schaefer presiding. On Saturday (18), the convention- eers move on to Chicago, except for certain eastern Aeld for s attiending. In New York, for a four-day session there. Initial two days will embrace general meetings, two Anal days in- dividual sessions with Schaefer. Not known as yet who will attend meet- ings from Coast. UA's 25% ill Eng. Hollywood, May 31. Cut in distribution charges from 30% to 23% in Great Bri- tain and Canad.a, making them the same as in the United States, was ratiAed last week by the board of directors of United Artists. , It .was also voted, to establish a special fund for the payment of bonuses to non-member pro- ducers. .s LASKY-KOHNIN PROD. TALKS WFFHPAR Jesse L. Lasky and Ralph A. Kohn/ former Paramount executives who have ' been in production several years, reached New York during the past week reportedly to discuss new producing or releasing affiliations. Among others, tljey conferred with Barney Balaban of Paramount. Kohn, last associated With Ben Schulberg, who wias releasing through Par, sold out his interest in Schulberg Productions. Lasky has been producing for RKO. Intra * Industry Self -Regula tion of All Ezhib-Distrib I Grievances Seen aa Sole Method to Stymie Peri-' ic Legislature Attacks ' Universal Executive Powwows Continue; Talk Unit Production; Young In, Chas. R. Rogers Maybe FEAR LEGAL TROUBLE Roach's Financmg For 4 UA Releases; Bruce-March His First HiTCHCOCK'S SELZNiCK PIC; JOINS MAYFLOWER London. May 31. Charles Laughton and Erich Pom- mer, heads of Mayflower Pictures Corp., have signed Alfred Hitchcock to produce .their next picture, 'Ja- maica Inn,' which goes into produc- tion in three weeks. Contract calls for two more op- tions, eanwhile, Hitchcock sails tomorrow (June 1) for U. S, He plans to negotiate a deal with Dave ,Sel7.nick to .produce a feature for him at the end of this year in Hol- lywood. Whitfprd Drak^, president of Electrical Research Products. Inc., also sails on the .same boat. His de- parture was delayed by illness. Grainger Stays at U Hollywood, May 31. Edmund Grainger signed a new ne-year producer contract at Uni- versal, squelching reports that he would follow his father, James R. Grainger, to Republic. Another Universal pact was inked by Jack Ottersen, supervising art director for the past two years. ollywood. May 31. Security Savings Sc Trust Co. Is Anancing the Hal Roach prckjuctions to Ix' released through United- Art- ists, and underwriting the minimum of folir pictures to be made by Roach in the next two years. Bank is re- ported to have advanced close to $1,000,000. as an operating fund for the production of Topper." Vir inia Bruce, borrowed from Metro, will play opposite Fredric March in 'There Goes My Heart,' Hal Roach's Arst picture under his new releasing pact with UA. Production will get Under way June 7, with Nor. nian McLeod directing from the screen play by Eddie Moran and Jack Jevne. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy go before the cameras today CTuesday) in ,an untitled comedy, the flnal Roach production for Metro. It is the last full-length' comedy to be made by this duo.for Roach. Their future Alms, to be released by UA, ill be four-reelers Plan for setting up concili ion .machinery, whereby so-called griev- ances either by exhibitor or distribu- tors may be adjudicated within the industry, is being seriously consid- ered by the -picture business. Pre- diction this week ./as that a deAnite conciliation setup would be decided upon within the next few weeks. Industry leaders have come to the conclusion that the time is ripei for such inter-industry operation in order to halt the flood of litigation, wipe out exhibitor squawks about product, clearance, buys, etc., and voluntarily place^he entire Aim busi- ness in a position to ward olf the ever-recurring legislative or govern- mental attacks. Many in the trade believe that the recent talks before independent ex- hibitors by W. F. Rodgers, Metro sales' chief, really pointed "the way. Rogers touched on conciliation and need for it in his speeches before Allied meetings in Boston and Pitts- burgh. Even as far.ba'k as. March, 1936, he indicated in Washington that he was willing to sit down and talk with any reasonab'y-minded per- sons in the industry, .over product and exhibition disputes. NRA Sabstltnle Several sales managers have In- sisted that something be done so cov,er the void cr?atec! by the pass- ing of the NRA, With its code setup, and the. demise of Aim boards of trade, Metro expressed an opinion favoring conciliation at the time that the MPTOA £Ubmitto>; its 10'propo- sitions for ironing out alleged trade evils. I Threat cohtainod in t-e passage of j the Neely bill in the senate and pos- i sibility that this or similar legisla- tion Will come before the next ses- sion of Congress, plus the proposal for an outright governmental cbnciN iation arrangement, arc reported back of the campaigii to set up an all-industry concilietion volunteer plan. Some attorneys with major com- Pi>nies have been mulliiig a proposal to have the, .attorney-C'Jneral's offlce recommend appointment of a perma- (Cpntinued on page 53) LeMaire's Cool-Off . Hollywood, May 31. Rufus LeMaire went on a burn' Sunday when he couldn't break into heart game at Hillcrest. Wanting to cool Off, before he turned in at home',- he walked along the edge of his swimming;, pool and lost his balance. Dip cooled him fast. GB Sm AFTER GRAND NAT'L ECHANGES It is not altogether certain that Gaurnont-Britjsh will produce some pictures America,... principally westerns to begin with, because much depiehds upon the company's possible purchase of the Grand National company's exchange system, but .it is' deflnitely assured that G-B has an offer pending to buy the GN ex- changes. in the event of purchase of the GN exchanges by G-B, it would be reasonable to assume that- G-B will undertake, production on this side. Also, it is Agured that none of the releasing product of GN would suffer by such a deal, as it is un- derstood that in. the event of pur- chase by G-B, whatever product should be oh release with GN would continued to be so released under new ownership. Whether , the. Federal Court which has jurisdiction over GN (77b) con- siders the offer or approves it. Anally, is something that's open. Edward Alperson^ former president of the company, and attorney Lloyd Wright, are the. trustees of GN. Hollywood, May 31. Business sessions kept Universal execs at the siudio over the holiday week-end. J. Cheever Cowdin came in from New York for discussions with Nate Blumberg, Cliff Work and Matty Fox on Anancial matters,' production and studio operation.' Cowdin returns enst June 2. Blumberg, while Fox remai three or (our w«ieks. Feli.x; Young goes on the producer stafT at Universal June 13. He re- cenlly departed RKO, where lie made 'Joy of Living.' > This is part of a discusiied \in\t production system under Cliff Work, new U. studio boss, Charles R. Rogers, rec3htly re- signed, production head of Universal, but who continues as a stockholder and rnember of that cpmpnny's board, may produce independently for Uni- versal release. Understood, that he has had some tal!:s in this regai'd with company ofAcials. If Rogers should undertake to.do this he would orobably also Anance his own pic- tur . Nate Blumberg^ president of the company, cohfeired with Rogers, re- cently on the latter's plan to Anance. his own output of six Alms a year. They will continue the discussion in Hollywood this week; Herbert Marshall has'obtained » release from his commitment in U's 'Certain Age- and will play the male lead, opposite Isa Miranda in Para- mount's Albert Lewin production of 'Zaza.' Picture is set to start Juiia 20 with CJeorge Cukor directing. Helen Broderick and Glenda Far- reli are set' for featured pa'Tts in 'Road to Reno,' due to start June 13 (Continued on page Jackie'S Three for U Hollywood, May 31. Jackie Cooper has inked a three- picture deal with 'Universal, pact running until February, 1939. First role under new contract will be with Deanna Durbin in "That Certain Age,' second in an untitled Boy Scout Aim; third still undecided/ Realty Operator Turns Producer, WiU Make 26 Pix for GN Release SR. DOUG'S 'LOLA MONTEZ' London, May 31. Douglas Fairbanks,' Sr., has an- nounced that he will produce 'Ad- ventures of Lola Montez' here in im- mediate fulur at cost of $1,000,000. Ilowever, no cast lias been picked iiy studio selected for produc- tion. Reeyes Espy, Goldwyn Y.P. Hollywood, May 31, Reeves Espy, for the past three years on the studio production staff, has been appointed vice-president of Samuel Goldwyii productions. He succeeds David Rose, resigned. Before joining the Goldwyn forces. Espy operated a circuit of theatres and was also assistant to- Charles Skouras, Fox-West Coast chain oper-. ator. He started with Skouras Bros, in St. Louis. Goldwyn's Arst production for United Artists' 1938-39 releasing schedule will be 'Kiss in the Sun,' William Wyler directing. Sonya Levien has been borrowed from 20th- Fox to collaborate with Sam N. Behrman on the .script. Edward Small has gone to Arrow- head Springs with George Bruce, writer, to trim the script for 'Duke 01 st Point,' due to go into pro- duction July 1. Picture will be Sniall's Arst production under lii.s new distribution part wiih U. A. Hollywood, May 31, I start. The 26 features will be made Grand National has closed a deal at a nominal tV;ure, while the .six (o distribute a minimum of 26 feat- special.s .will co.st between $400,()00 ure picture, to include, six specials, I and $(ip0.000 each. Fir.st picture is produced the coming season by Fine ' expected to be ready for delivery by Arls Pictures, Inc. New organization is reported to have $1,000,000 ready for immediate production. President of the com- pany is Franklyn Wai'ner, realty arid end of Slimmer Second deal clo.scd by GN last week was wilh Sam Friedman, for- mcily in pictures and lately In the liquor bii.vioess in (Cincinnati.. Fried- investment operator^ who has been man ill fin.nnce and produce cialil interested in Alms and theatricals for westerns and two. features for CN year.s. Associated wilh him arc di.slribulion. Oeoige . Bigelow, president of the Piircha.se by GN of controlling in- Pacific Iron Works, and M. A. Penny, r lore.-:! in its Canadian suljsi iaiy, capitalist. / | Crand Natipn.il, f.td:, has been ap- j Warner's executive representative . proved by Federal Jud^e William I'. \ on production matters is Sam Bcrko-r James. Denl involves the acqiiisi-i witz. operator of Coast cxchan.-jes for j lion of fiS C'la.-i.s A shares Irnm Alex ' years. He will supervise production > Adih-nan, president of the Canadian ; of the pictures to be made at GN. | Comp.nny, for $10,000. j Deaj lia.s been under way for more Pioducli n on IH color shorl.? at! than six months, during whicli lime rir.-mrt .itional has been set back by , it ■■ understood Warner h.Ts bccn'I.oii Hanlz to propare 'Topsy,' a full-j iijuyiiijf up lai';;e quaiililics of Gi jiid l0h.;lli fi;:ilui e, clue lu start thi.s. week, ■ I Nalidiial stock. | Aldon N;i.-ih writing the screen ; Ber owilz has bcfn Hriiti^.iiii^slory play dealing wilh incidents in 'Uncle ' j material for .n early produc-tion. Toin'd C' in.' | Tra<1« Ma.r\i Rcel<iler«<l F'>l'NI)KI> BV KI.MB SII-VKUMAN rulillahril WKrkIt tiy V.^KII^I'V. Inc .SM Sllveniinn. l*r^HliI^nl in Wtnl ir,{h SIreol, Nl-w Vurk CJI>