Variety (Aug 1938)

1* •VAHIECT'S* T.ONDON OFFICK. St. Martin'* Pli>c«; Tr»f«l»Hr M«iumK mTERNATIdNAI. NEWS CabI* Addrait TABIETr, rOMDON TfiteplMiBe Temple Biu MII-MMZ London Legit Season Plenty Tough, Heavy UstPrimelft^ Loncloh, July 26. W«st End show business this year, has caused more, sad hearts and denied bankrolls than usual. Big- gest disappointment wasv the super spectacle at Drury Lane, The Sun Never Sets,' from the Edgar Wallace •'Sanders' gerieSi which lost the man- agement and O'Brycn, Linnet & Dunfee IISCOOO-in its four weeks run, and constitutes a record m the last four years. _ - _ Another, heartbreaker , was The Engadine Express," the super, ice sliow, which Sir Oswald StoU staged at the London Coliseum as a fpUow up to "St. Moritz.' , This lasted barely three weeks to a loss of ?75,000, with the Libraries being nicked to the tune o£ $30,000; "No Sky: So Blue,' a Gor- don Harbord venture, blacked out at the Savoy after, a Ave weeks' linger- ing death to the extent of ?60,000. Smaller loss was sustained by Jack Davis on 'Follies of 1938,' which fin- ished a run of nine weeks at the Seville to a loss of $30,000. 'Countess Maritza,' the Austrian musical, now dubbed plain 'Maritza,'.is lingering at the Palace after a provincial try- out. It's already $75,000 down, and does not look like getting it back. Against these losers are several- pleasing features,, and many surr prises. Biggest is 'Me and My. Girl, which, alter several weeks in the sticks, losing money consistently, came to the Victoria Palace and lingered on the danger zone. Then the promoters decided .to put in an- other $5,000 as a last throw. After a broadcast the show began to pick up and has how run for over seven, months to Very good, coin. To. date it has made over $150,000 for its backers. Looks like running in- deflnitelyi.: Another outstander is 'Idiot's De- light,' which has, clicked from the start. Seems good for a year and will bring the ttam of Henry Sherek and Raymond M'assey a sweet $100,- 000 profit - Of the" English ventures; 'Wild Oats,' the Firth Shepherd mu- sical, in which anyone could have had an interest before the curtain went up at Prince's, also looks like adding another $150,000 to Shep- herd's bank account. Of the established successes, •French Without Tears,' at the Cri- terion, will bring the promoters an easy $250,000 profit before it bows out, while 'George and Margaret' se«ms assured of at least $100,000 oh' the black side of the ledger. : The ups and downs of show busi- ness have never had any effect on the optimism of producers who are already set to do at least 30 new shows in the West End for the fall. The.se include two by Gilbert MjU- «r, Fredetick' Lonsdale's 'Once Is Enough.' done in New York.-and an adaptation of Tolstoi's 'War and Peace/ Basil Dean has a number of shows. One is based on the life of Olive Shreiner, adapted by Merton Hodge; three new J. B. Priestley plays. 'Wedding Giroup* and 'John- son Over Jordoti.' and another, in which he will put up his Own coin; 'Last Train South,' by H. C. Hutch- inson, starring Flora Robsph, which goes to the St. Martin's and which he presents in conjunction with Priestley, and 'Murder in Soho.' H. M. Tenncnt has a new Dodie Smith play, starring Marie Tempest and John Gielgud; new play at Wyndhams, to follow 'Georce and Margaret, as yet untitled, with Ed- mund Gwenn already engaged to . star; 'Lovely to Look At,' by Phillip Johnson; 'Quiet. Wedding,' a recent tryout at 'Q' theatre, in conjunction with O'Bryen, Linnet & Duhfee, which will star Elizabeth Allen and Frank LaWton. O'Bryen, Linnet & Dunfee will also do the long-delayed. James Hilton'jt best seller. 'Good Bye, Mr. ChipSi' With Ralph Richard-i son already .engaged for the lead. Jack W-aller has. a . trio, the most important of which is the Bobby Howes musical; 'Heaven and Charing Cross,' which was .originally bought by Tommy Bostock after a local tryout, and ^Swprds Against Us.' from the Cecil Roberts ribvel of the same name. Charles Cochran is con- cerned with only one, 'Father Mai achy's Miracle.' previously done in New York. Gordon Harbord has four, the bisgest 'Of which; is 'Bird on the Wing,' based' on the life of Lola M'ontez, and will" star Mary Ellis: the others are 'Down in the Forest,' 'Promised Land' and hew play by Evadne Price. There is the new George Black musical for the Hippodrome, 'The Fleet Is Lit Up,' with Stanley Lupino: Frances Day and Adele Dixon in chief roles; Eric Maschwitz's 'Pap- rika/ a sequel to 'Balalaika': a. new Lee Ephraim musical, starring Cicely Courtneidge and Jack Hulbert. The new Firth, Shepherd Gaiety theatre musical, starring Leslie Henson, be ing tried '^ut at Blackpool .in mid Auaust. coming to the Gaiety in Sep- tiember. "The Women' sponsored by Jack Buchanan.. A new musical whioh Ivor Nnvello . Is ^writing nl- ready named 'Casino.' *rop of the Trefe' by Reginald Denham,and Ed- ward Percy, which former will pro- duce at the Comedy Aug. 9, and an Austrian musical which Gpeffrey Gwyther has tht rights to, as well as Charles Morgan's 'Clashing Stream,' to. be done by Godfrey Tearle, in which the actor-manager will star with Margaret Raw.lings. Estimates; $5 to the £ 'panana Ridge/ : Strand (12th week). Doing $1,400 a performance, which is very gopd going, and -eem- ingly set for months. • 'Comedienne/ Hay market (5th week); At $8,000 weekly intake, making 75% capacity, which is prof- itable, and can look forward to bet- ter time's as season advances. 'French Withoat Tears/ Criterion (2d year). Daddy of: 'em all, and slvbwing no' sign Of old age; still around $5,500 and good for many more rhonths. 'Golden Boy/ St. James's (5th' week). Started slowly and at one tiihe nearly reached the danger zone; but backers had confidence and show is'now. in the hit c'?>ss, do- ing $8,000,' but matinees light. - 'George: and Margaret/ Wynd- ham's (2d'year).' Second longest run in West-End; doing $'6,000, and with practically; no overhead, can stay on for soni.etinrie; rnanagement already- has new play in :hahd iri case. 'Habpy -Returns/ Adelphi (9th week). Has picked up after slow start, and now around $12,000, slightly profitable; Charles Cochran expects it' will pick:, up by '.he Tall, and intends to hold out.. 'Idiot's Delight,'. Apollo USth week); S'lairted out big, and . now bigger than eiver; capacity at every night performance, ~ with matinees having an occiisional! vacant' seat or two; steady $9,25d; plenty for all con- 'cerned. LitUe Stranger/ Royalty (2d week). Has chance at this small house, iespecially as newspapers have been kind; no overhead, and can break even at $3,000; should do above that figure: . 'Lot's Wife/ Aldwych (6th week), Two-for-pner, and hot exceeding $4,000, slightly out of the red. _ . 'Me and My Girl/ Victoria Palace (30th week). Biggest surprise of the season, with the promoters more surprised than anybody; doing con- sistent trade, never below $15,000, and now steady $18,000; at this gait is good for ; a year. "The Lambetb Walk' song.'craze from this show helping it at the b.o. 'Marliza,' Palace (3d week). Never touched niore than $7,000 week, and is well on losing side; promoters still have.faith in show, and tooting the bills: questionable if destined for much longer. 'Nino Sharp/ Little (24th week). Was not' expected to stay half as long, but has proved real money spinner; cast on ' percentage, with, some getting three .times their nor- mal salary; doing' , steady $4,500, which is practically capacity for this sir.all-seatcr. Plan for. a Hostess/ St. Martin's (18th week). Made some money, but dwindled to danger zone, with clos- ing notice up; dping $6,000, which Js good, but overhead big for this small capacity house. ■Robert's Wife/ Globe (34th week) Has been a. money spinner for H. M; Tennent, and still weU in the coin at $8,000. although at times it touched $10,000; looks good for many more months. 'Poison Pen/ Playhouse f 16th week). Transferred from Shaftes- bury theatre, where it lost money at $3,U00, and even smaller house with low. overhead is still not in the money; barely doing the former $3,- 000 mark. 'Sprinir Meelliig/ Ambassrfdor (7th week). Is making money at just un- der $1,000 per show, and should liave no trouble to go along steadily at this rate for several inore months. The Island/ Comedy (22d week). Has made some rhoney, as overhead is. hot big; now doing $3,500. which abput covers expenses;, not destined for much longer stay. The Insect Play/ Duke of York's (12th : week); Has not made any money, and only in as stopgap till management get something better; at $3,000 cannot break even. 'Wild Oats/ Princes (14lh week). Doing steady $7,000. very good; looks like it can stay for several more monllis. 'Operette' Waits Retorn Of Peggy Wood for Tour London, July 26. 'Operette,' the Noel Coward play, which. just finished run at His Majesty's theatre, will start a pro- vincial tour end of August, including week' each at Golders Green and Streatham. • Delay is due to Peggy Wood, the lead, who, had to get back to America as sbbh, as play finished its London run, to settle up 'her late husband's affairs, with tour com- mencing as soon as Miss Wood re- .turns. . ;. 260 Films, 181 frpm U. Released In R A.; German Production Down 'SNOW WHITE' HIKES IN SYDNEY DESPITE COLD Sydriiey, July 19. Intense cold, plus the cricket broad'casts from England, kicking the b.p.'s down. Mats holding lip nicely. Show White' (RKO) is smash with- out letup. 'Test Pilot' (M-G) shbUld play-tp high stakes. 'Bluebeard's Eighth Wife' (Par) quits, with - 'Stolen Heaven'. (Par) replacing. 'First Hundred Years' (M-G) came in for try, and 'Joy of Living^ (RKO) is a holdover. Cine- sound's .'Proken Melody' looks okay pn femme ' biz. 'Cloistered' (BEF) to be -followed • by 'Rose of 'Tralee' (BEF). Metro is doing all',right with 'Merrily We Live' and 'Judge Hardy's Children/ 'Fools for Scan- dal' iWB)' and 'Slight Case of Mur- der' (WB) eased off. Par's French Program Paramount's Schedule for France in coming year will. not. differ from that of previous years, according to announcement in New York.- Com- pany wilt make the -usual three or four featuries during the year and call on outside companies to do the producing. They will be turned ptit at Joinville, where there are three different studios at the present time. As in the past. Par will not make costly Frenc'h productions. They are made in accordance with past policy of turning oiit.a. certain nuniber of pictures on French soil. Films gcn- eraliy only have limited distribution. Par is said to have no knowledge of ideal with Alexander Korda whereby he might produce, fpr Par, as previ-. ously had been indicated. LUDWIG BERGEif S NEW FRENCH FILM PROD. Melboiirrie, July 19. 'Happy Landing' (20th) is-smash here despite trade,lull, 'Bluebeard's Eighth Wife' (Par) having no trouble; 'Stella Dallas' (UA). 'I'll Take Romance* (Col), "They Won't Forget' (WB), 'You're a Sweetheart' (U), and 'M'arie Walewska' (M-G) drawing the biz, 'K^ep Fit' (BEF) only British aim getting by.' , Auckland/N. Z., July 1&, Films playing ace spots here are: 'Weils Fargo', (Par), 'Wife^ Doctor, Nurse' (2()tH), 'lilad About Music' (U), 'Old Chicago' (20th), 'Firefly' (M-G), 'Marco Polo' (UA); 'Hawaii Calls' (RKO), 'Bluebeard's Eighth Wife* (Par), and 'Portia on Triar (BEF). Cecfle Soret Troope Sail for ToDr of S. A. Paris, July 25^ Cecile- Sorel, grande daine of the French theatre, sailed from Mar- seilles last, week for a four-rnonth tour in' South: America., .It was her original intention to fly from Paris to Dakar, but-when the manager of the. troupe threatened to siie her if, by accident, shis failed ,tb catch the boat, she changed her mind; In all, 16 leading players are in- cluded in the troupe, which will head first for ■ ivenos Aires, and wil' pre-: sent the . entire repertoire ot Mme. Sorefs plays during the four 'months it will be in S. A. Paris, July .25. • France's latest film production company is Sofror,- headed by' Lud- wig Berger who will mark his entry' intP the French prbductibh field with the Three Waltzes/ starring Pierre Fresnay aivd Yvonne Printemps, Capitalized at $30,000 ^fror was created by Berger, who states he means to produce all of his future films here. When , the Three Waltzes"' is finished he will conri- mence work on a film bpsed on the life of J. H.. Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross. With the new pro(Juctipn company, a new distribliting firm has also sprung into existence. The new one on .this count is National Dist'ribu-. tiori Film/ located in the Champs- Elysees, and has announced ifs mak- ing a grab for some.ot the French films fpr the cbming:year. Pix Piayiiig So. Af ria Capetown, July 15. Following' films; have played: liere recently: - Colosseum. 'I See Ice' (ATP), fol- lowed by 'Hitting New High* (RKO); Alhaihbra, 'Slight Case of Miirder* (WB), followed by "This Way Please' (Par); Plaza, 'Romance for Three' (M-G); Royal, 'Bad Man of Brim- stone' (M-G), followed by 'Man Proof (M-G); Adelphi, 'Love. Honor and. Behave' (WB), and Elstree,, "Thanks a Million/ Wheeler London Click London. Aug. 2. Bevt Wheeler c1ir1;e<l .<!olidly in his opening at the Palladium yesterday iMon.). Four Franks also scored. 1ST HEBREW TALKER Tel AvivL July . 2, Carmel -Films 6t Tel Aviv has just comple'cd- flr.st full-length Hebrew talliing picture, 'Over the Ruins.': act's Silver Anni (Capetown, July 15. Silver anniversary of the African C:ons61idated Theatres is being marked by special shows at its prin- cipal houses'throughout the, country. Artigt.'i include Larry Adler, the harmonica player, and Afrique, im- personator. Johannesburg, July 15. Metro is pacing films playing here. Others: Empire; 'Break the News,' (GFG), followed, by 'Housemaster";' Pal- ladium, 'Laughing Irish Eyes' (Rep), followed by 'Sheik Steps Out* (Rep); Plaza, 'This Wiay Please* (Par), fpl lowed by 'Penrod and Twin Brother' (WB); Colosseum, 'Jezebel' (WB), followed by 'I See Ice' (ATP); Metro, 'Farewell Again' (London Film), followed by 'Swiss Miss' (M-G), and Bijou, ' inner Take All' (M-G). Current London Plays (Witli Date! When Opened) 'FiPir.^h 'W'iltiuut Tertts,' Cl-lterlon—Nov. «. '3fl. , •Upoi-se ntiJ Mai-gni-et,' Wyndhams—Feb'. 2.1. ■RoUcrl'D Wife.' Clohe—Nov. 13, '.17. '.\ll>' mill .My Olil,' Vktoi'ia I>uI.k;b— D*c. in. :)•:. •Nine .<;iinii>.' T.ltilp-.I.in. SO, '58. •The l.-sliiiHl.' coniedv-Keb, 10. .'.Ifl. . 'rian Tor u lloMioHa.' ,St. .Mai-lin's—Mai-ch in. -as •tdlol's D,;llpht.' .*i)oll«-Mnrch S!. '.IS, ■' 'PolJirtn Mor,' I'Inyhouse—April 'HN. •WIM OnlK." Piini-p»»-Aprll II. '3S. 'Bnonna I'.ldee,' su-hnJ-ADrll 1'7, 'People of Out--fin?*!".' New—Mit.v' 11.,'.IS. ■TtiB Inwct ri.lj',' Duko -ot Vork's—.'Iprll "7 . ■ •riop'oy netiirns,', .A,l>Mplil—Miiy jo, '.18. 'rtlol-liiUii .M,M-nliic.' Dllcllpjw—Mfly 20, '.1R, 'f^pi'liiK Mecilnu;' .\inba88ndot'—.May d'l, '3.«. ', ' . - 'Vo Sk.» ,<=o Blue.' S.ivoy—.Tune 8. •lAI'M wife.' Alil\vych-.Iun« 10. ''i:oine<l(erne.' Maymavket—June 19, . . 'f;«|(ien Boy.' -St. Jnmeii—June 21. •.\lni-lt!!n.' fnlftoc—Iuly fl. 'Anil r>ir<> Riiniji On,' AvU—.Tiily 10. ■'LlDlf SlrnrKer.* nnyBlly—July l;t. 'In'l'.l .CiicuH,*'Coliseum-July iO. .;, Durban. July 15. Pictures that have played, here recently .are: Prince's. 'True Contc.'i.sion' fPar), fpllowcd by "Beethoven '.Concerto King's, 'Gabriel, Over 'While Hou.se' (M-Gi; Metro <M-G). 'Rbiinance for Three' (M-G) and Playhouse, ■Vivacious Lady' (RKO). Mex Distrib Deal Hollywood. Aug. 2. Corporation to finance and distrib- ute MexiCan-mude films is the plan of Paul M. Bush, wealthy business man o( Mexico City, here to confer with Cba.'it banker."!. Under the present ."system Mexican producers send their own .salesmen to peddle pictures in Sp.rnish'-.speak- Ing.countries. Bu.sh proposes Ip cen- tralize distribution in one company. uenbs Aires, July 28. Mexican picUires,. making great strides in S. A.,.will soon have a per- manent distributing agency here. Setup >ill be headed by Arluro .i , Iluehos Aires, Julv 26 ■ During the first six months of i'mb 260 feature length pictures have been released on the local market. Prbm these, 181 or 70%, were from the ,U. S. , Second were Frehch films with 30 releases, profiting totally by the Ipss of prestige suffered ,by German prbductioh, which here- tofore had always followed a good second, but has been poorly rcpre- ■ sented this ■ year by only six pic- tures. Argentina released iweply. one'. Runners-up; are' British.' 10; Austrian; 3, and Mexican, Spanish] Hungarian and'Viddish, 1 each. From the U. S., , Paramount lops with 26 releases, fpllowed b.v War.' her and Metro, with 22 each,'and 20th-Fox, RKO and Republic, 2l each. Universal had 19 releases, Co- lumbia, 16; United Artists, 10, and Monogram, 6;' Not all hits from the States are clicking here. Biggest b. p. altrac- tion'fpr the period was '100 lien and a Girl' (U),'closely followed by 'Lile of Emile Zola' (WB), 'Awful Truth' (Gol), 'Buccanieer' (Par) and 'In Old Chicago* (20th).' Others in the big money group were 'Conquest' (M-.G), "Prisoner of Zenda*' (UA), 'Soiils at Sea' tPar), 'Bringing. Up- Baby' (RKO), 'Hurricane' (UA), .'Heidi' (20th) aind 'Stage Door' iRKO). This,: of course, is not the result of a full season, and a later survey imay change the list tP some extent. 'Snow White' (RKO), which is predestinat- ed to the s^me b. o, smashes here, as elsewhere, is hot yet in general dis- tribiition. Had -hitherto a -three- week first run at the ideal and a second: eixclusive engagement for two weeks at the Ambassador, drawing - up new ,all-tiine records for these two :key theatres of the Laularet b Cavallo groiip. Prpmisiiig new- comers are "Test Pilot' tM-G), just, out of a'two-week run at the Ideal, and 'Robin Hood* (WBi), which foU lows today: (20). 'Joy of Living* (RKO) and 'Mad About Music' are still waiting, for nabe releases. Local execiltlVes of U. S. com- panies state that,the number of pic- tures hitherto little-changed in com- parispn with fprmer' seasons, finally may decrease next season. lii local offices, .as well as in N. Y., there's some feeling, that rediiced imports may improve to some extfent net profits of .the companies. Releasing fewer pictures ;means less custom? house diity, reduced print costs and savings in publicity. Another, approach is that steps, possibly under consideration in 'Ar- gentine government quarters, and destined to protect national produc tion, could be. crushed before they start, by reducing the imports. Such steps would include forced dubbing in Spanish, increase, in custom house duties, etc. All this is nothing else but the old question of local distribution, which pops up every-year.' But this time, it will mostly be due to giealer in- crease in local production. The higher level of Argentine picUires,: compared to former years' output, makes them more appealing.to local picture'goers. ' Echo to this can I* found in the b.o. reports of the A.,merican companies. Their claim ii that business in general drops as, a consequence, of the reduced ctopf, but .does so especially with loreign pictures. Heaviest loss is felt in the inlerioi of the country, where people are res-: . olutely favoring Spanish-spoken fllins, namely Arge tine produCjons. iPossibly, Ui S. companies will meet this , situation ' by dubbing part ol their material In Spanish. Difficul- ties, however, will, arise from the fact that there's no uniform pro-, huncialion of the Spanish languaR* in, the, Latin-American countries While, fp,r instance, the local.^ slill may agree to see a Mexican picture and accept it, if it is a good one, there is little chanc^ that * hey will accept an American picture dubbed in Mexico, and vice versn. >=ince, Mexican and Argentine Spanish zre difierent. Besides, for the . other Latin-American countries and Spain;.the problem is the same- Therefore, it, U. S. companie.s would eventually decide to rnnke Spanish dubbings, there is no doiipt this work would have tp be done m Argentina, /lerely on accoimt oi market conditions. Thin.^,< being • they actually are, thi; w.hola l"**!^^"' is not yet hot^ but rumor i."^ spme of the companies concern^ Alvarez Bolip of 'Distribuidora Hisr bave already inquired at local pano Mexicans.' 'dios ifdr synchronization cu-.ls.