Variety (Aug 1938)

•TAUEtfT U>NIM>!I OITICK, S St. IfartiB'* riac*, Tnitalcsr O^nun INTERNATIONAL NEWS Cnbie A<l<1reut VARirTT, LONDON Trlrphun* Tempi* Bar.8Ml-89ll IS AUSSIE VS. U. S. MONOPOLY LiMidon MaiK^er Group Loses Fij^t To Elinmate Cut Prices for Shows London, Aug.. 22. liolcs like the West End Managers '9 determined stand against they called the curse oi the theatre the two-for-one-racket, pri- marily inaugurated in England by Payne-Jennings & Killik, has proved B flop The leaders ot the opposition to ihe scheme,: H; M. ■ Tennent and Brbnsbn Albery, were the first to break away, and are now operating •George and Margaret' at the Picca- dilly on a half-price basis, with others dt the bunch to fall into line. Reason for the change of attitude Is traced to 'Housemaster,' which, tStft '■ very successful' run at the I^c, was Uken over by Payne- jedoiogs & Killik and run at the Aldwych at cheap rates for another It months, bringing in the author an ((KfltioDal >15,b00. this resulted in the Authors Assn. apposing the West End managers' ruUng: about cheaper :i»ice3, with playwrights declining to accept siich t daiue in their contracts, claiming macigers have no riglit to tell the lutbors what to do with their brain children after the managers have . finished with them. BltAZlLEYES2U.S.C0S. . Rio de Jaiheiro, Aug. 18. Stern' editorials in newspapers here,'directed against two A'merlcah prwlucing outfits for alleged anti- coffee propaganda, followed reptorts. that the Department of National Propaganda had asked that flira cen- sors .be on the alert for pictures pntduced. by Columbia Pictures and First National. Pictures not named but are supposed to be productions In which 'Miss Iced-Coffee' festival in -New York was kidded. . Bp^zll is spending considerably on coffee propaganda: Whether any action on banning, the . films, or cracking down on the. two . com- panies, for showing the pictures in question will be taken, remains un- decided. American distributors here wlU not comment on the incident though hopeful that it is a' misunder- standing on tlie part of government oiBcials. Mex Commish Named To Settle Labor Snags Mexico Gity,'Aug. 30. . Row between picture producers Mil exhibitors for supremacy of two Workers' unions, which boycotted a wuple of productions and promised w send the industry to the bow- wows, has been settled with inter- vention of the Confederation of Mexican workers. laboritcs are to be directed by a national commish with facilities for nandling most any work difficulty. Upiniere Back to Paris I-apiniere, European publicity ctuef for Metro, received his first American citizenship papers before «^mg today (\Vcdnesday) for He has been in N. Y. for the last 'Ur weeks i ofificfe ofricials, lour weeks conferring with liom U*8 Mex Dislrib Spanish productions made in Mox- Mu'ii u"^ Ijy Fernando de Fucritcs w'H be distributed outside ot Mex- co by Universal. Deal was mndc «« week by J. H. Scidelman. for- *'Sn chief of U. MOLIEK QUITS DANE THEATRE . Copenhagen, Aug. 20. Andreas MoUer, director of the ^Bh national theatre for years, '^.''ss'gned for a post , with the ^nptry of education. «e had. for- •nwiy been with the latter. tifJJ* ""^w director is Hegermann i .""crone, department head, in the •nistry of education. Cobian to Do Spanish Pic For 20th on Return to U.S. . iRamos Cobian, who produced 'My Two Loves,' Spanish language fea- ture lor Paramount distribution, is expected back from Puerto Rico early next month after inspecting his large circuit of theatres in that country. He heads the United Thea- tres circuit, reputedly the biggest chain ther-e.. Cobian will head. for the Coast shortly after returning to the U. S; to begin production on his initial Spanish lahguager for 20th-Fox.- 2S YANKEE ACTS BOOKED FOR ENGLAND London, Aug. 22: Charles L. Tucker's recent trip to Ameirica has resulted in lineup of 25 Yank acts for England. Those already signatured,; with others to follow, are Winter Sisters,. opening Palladium Sept. 9, with General The- atres Corp. tour to follow; 'Olive White, at the Trocadero restaurant, and then into Tucker's vaudeville unit for 25-week run;. Bob Bromley, Trocadero, Sept. 19, then Berkeley, and Savoy hotels, with 16 weeks for GTC; Paul Draper at the Coliseum, in October, doubling into the Cafe.de Paris; Carr Bros, and Betty op<!n in October for GTC; Lbper and Barratt, Savoy hotel, Nov. 14,. for four weeks, with Continental date.-, to follow. Other U. S. acts' set so far are Sarah Ann McCabe, at the Ritz and Trocadero for lilovember; Ray^. Wilbert, Coliseum, November; Paul Kirkland, opening for GTC in Janu- ary, and Peters Sisters! Palladium, and GTC circuit, with Charles Forr sythe's vaudeville unit. Gvot, Pkon Click London, Aug. 30. George Givot, 'Greek ambassador' comedian, was well received at the Palladium here.. Molly Picon, Yid- dish comedienne, went over terrific- ally at the Holborn. Russ Denny and Jack Curtis got poor reception at the Coliseum. De Leon's Takeover London, Aug. 23. When Jack de Leon takes over the Embassy theatre, Swiss Cottage, next month, he will run it in conjunction with his Q theatre at Kew. The lat- ter will be used, as formerly, for weekly tryouts of new plays, and these will move up to the Embas.sy the following week. The first of thcs.e new plays is n comedy. 'Room for Two,' by Gilbert Wakefield. Cast will be 'headed by Eisic Randolph, musical comedy star, playing her first straifiht pari.. Current London Plays (With Dntes When Opened) .'FK-nch Williout Tom P.' Crilfrlon-Nnv. r.. "M. •I'.i.ijfr-i .« wifn.' r;i.-.iii>— N'mv d;i. '.it,- '.XIo and My (.Ili-l.* ■ \'irt<i'iii, f'iil.'ici.—Dec. M'l. .'17. ■Nino siifirp.' .r.iciif—.I:i.n. Cfi. .'.T-J. •Iillnl's lii-llKlit.' .\|ii,llo-.M:iiili '-'IS. •WIM Cliil!).' HP OlSTIllBS Legislation Being Lined Up as Yank Government's Anti-Trust Suit Becomes Increasingly Felt Down lUnder—Worst A11 a c k s Cdme from New South Wales, South Australia EXHIB PEEVES AIRED Sydney, Aug. 30. Repercussion of the Federal anti- trust monopoly, suit against major companies and affiliates the United States is being increasingly felt in Australia. South Australia, New South Wales and West Australia all have legislation affecting distfib- utpr interest lined up, and now there is a possibility that the Gov-, ernment of Australia; will enter the field on ah Imperial quota, obviously aimed at U. S. dlstribs. Exhibitors have seized on the Amer- ican government's civil suit against big producer-distribs as an excellent opportunity to bring forward their pet peeves against'foreign distribu- tors, bulk ot whom are American companies. They have prodded poli- ticians and government; men into action in several states already, and others doubtlessly will be heard from later. Worst threats so far are in South Australia and New South Wales, be- cause of . their large number of the- atres and big populations. In South Australia, the govern'ment is pro- ceeding on legislation covering the proposed .25% right of rejection on pictures, a plan to halt block book- ing, limit theatre construction and other means of attempting to thwart distributor interests. There are sev- eral good-sized circuits in this prov-. ince which undoubtedly would pre- fer block booking to any other method of selling. Consequently this proposal may fall by the wayside.. In New South Wales, the govern- ment is nearly ready to introduce new quota legislation, together'with a higher rejection rate privilege for exhibitors, possibly 15%, which would halt future theatre building. If hew quota law is passed, it will be the third foi: this state. None so far has accomplished the purported purpose of forcing American distri- bution companies to enter Aussie production field or at'least to assist local producing financially on a good-sized scale. West Australian government is bringing up legislation to permit one night weekly for family trade with a minimum admission of 12c. Spe- cial act proposed by Premier Will- cock would make distributor con- tracts bind exhibitors to minimum admissions. Neighborhood theatres' desiring family nights now are pre- vented from cutting the admittance fee from 2Sc. to I2c, because of con- tracts, forbidding reduction below 25c., .claim exhibitors. Distributors say pacts read that cxhibs cannot show for less than 25c. except on certain features. BigBCst threat i.s regarded a.s being^ wrapped up in the chance that an Imperial quota would be set up' ifor all Australia. But iivsido inforrhs- tion is that, dislribiitors have an ade- quale an.svcr on this when and if it becomes a law. Mex Expropriation of U. S. Distrib Held Unlikely by U. S. Biggies Due To Possible toss of Worker Indemnity Dutch East Indies Up U.S. Pix Due to China Dip Batavia, West Java, Aug. 15. More U. S. pictures than ever probably will be distributed in the Netherlands Indies this year - cause of anticipated dip in Chinese picture imports. Last year, Ainer- ican films represented'64.5% of all pictures exhibited in Netherlands .Indies and closest competitor was China. Sharp drop, is anticipated in Chi- nese-made productions because ol Sino-Japaiiese conflict. U. S. PIX TOPS IN FINNISH MARKET Washington, Aug. 30. Popularity of American pictures in Finland was attested Monday (29) in a report from the American Consulate at Helsinki to the De- partment of Commerce,' that only three out ot 92 U. iS. films were thrown out by the Finnish film censorship bureau. Hollywood prod- uct accounted for more than half of the 165 feature-length pictures reviewedi during the first half of the current year, according to the re- port. With America taking the lead, Germany contributed .22: films, France 18; with the remaining 33 films including a Finnish and 25 foreign, features. . Second . quarter of 1938 saw a marked increase in. the number of pix reviewed the Censorship Bureau, ogling 98 during the second three months of the year as compared with 49 dur- ing the second quarter of 19!»7. In January, February and March, 67 American produced films were re- yiiewed. Three pictures which failed to make the grade were all of the 'gangster type,' American consul added. Possibility of jjoyernment takeover or confiscation of United States dis- tribution of pictures in Mexico is a dim possibility, according to Ameri- can film officials familiar with the situation in that country. While other, industries, such as pctiroleum or sugar manufacturing, may . be taken over by the labor government, and more or less operated success- fully, there would be no particular advantage 3ained in adopting such a policy film -.llstribution,. Ihey believe. One outstanding factor .against such a move is the. fact that em- ployees Who are members of labor unions would lose their - highly valuable indemnities now in force. This protects film ej^change Workers so adequately tha labor, parly groups probably would not think of losing it. . Any worker rieceiv<» DO days' pay if discharged.' If he has been em- ployed for one year, he receives 21 days' additional pay. The 21-day extra allowance Is granted for every additional year he works! Some em- ployees have been on the job for American distributors for 15' to 16 years. A. L. Pratchett, divisional mana- ger for Paramount in Central Amer- ica, who's entirely familiar with the Mexican situation because of his rep- resentation of American companies in Mexican union dealings several years ago, does not anticipate any move to nationalize or confiscate the film 'distribution business in that c. untry. Pratchett believes the Mex- ican labor group to be too sensible to . adopt any such plan. Understood that any such attempt would mean, the withdrawal of U. S. companies and shutting off of film supply. The few films and supplies taken oyer would mean only a tem- porary gain tor those putting such a plan into effect. Any nationalization of th6 film business, :as. applie l to theatres', would not injure American interests because houses are operated vir- tually. 100% by Mexican business- men. ■ • HLM ON COPENHAGEN TO MARK CENTENNIAL Copenhagen, Aug. 20, Nordisk Film Kompagni plans to produce a big feature about Copen- hagen next year since the Danish capital will celebrate its 100th an- niversary in 1B40, Thomas Heile will produce, while Sven Methling will direct. Tax-free film about the 150th an- niversary of the Danish farmer's freedom recently was finished by Nordisk Film. Else Skouboe Rehearses For Anderson's 'Masque' Copenhagen, Aug. 30. Else Skouboe, Danish actress sought for a lead role in 'I Am DilTercnt.' in which Tallulah Bankhcad is now starring on a U. S. road tour, is cur- rently rehearsing for Maxwell An- derson's 'Masque of Kings." Miss Skouboe was prevented from playiiig in the American show be- cause she was unable to got labor permit. A. Von Ilavcrbeck, managing di . rt, , J. . ,, , , I rector for United Cinema Co., Ltd., In OlCkneSS and .in Health/Slam, wluch handles RKO pictures in Siiim and Strails Settlement, arrived in New York last week tor home office parlcy.s and a vi.fit.to the Coast Von Haverbeck in N. Y. •WIM CliilM.' l'iiili('<N-.\|.ril 11. .'Biiiinila lililcc.- !:lr,iiU-.\|iril '.'T. . 'fJlnrlftii.i MoiiiliiB.' DiirhP!.''—.Mii.v -ji;. 'Sl<r'inff Mocdnc' .\mli;i-'^.'':i'lf''"-.^l'i>" ■■.i>l. ' ■ -I.ofs Wife.' .Jilrtn>ch-.lunp 10. ■(-om**(h,-nh(*.' (In.'. in;ii*Kc(—.hiiif- Ifl. ■ •Ci l.lcii I!".*'.' .Si. J^iliii'."-.!!!"!- -I. '.\l.iillz.i ■ l':ilfic"-,lul> fi '.";|n. 'P'tt Wus Viiunc.,- Wyiiilliiipn s-.\UK '"■•nic r-IOOl's Lit .ri'.' HI|l;'lJ■l^.lnl;-.^M«. l '•Uist •Lj:iln .Sii .' ::i.M:illl"'.s. .\0». U, MEX 10,000-SEAT AUD Mexico City, Au;;.:!0. Pliin.s have been completed by the j federal and municipal governments | for construction of an auditorium i seating 10,000. with acou.stic shell i similar to that of the Hollywood; Bowl, in Chapultepcc park, largest-, ljubiic phiyground here, for the open air pre.sentation of operas, balle(.<;,' folk dancc.s, concerts and pa.'^eant.^. Construction is scheduled to start, in October. Mexico City. Aui;. 30. Fernando de Fuentos. Mexican pic- ture director, and hi.s wife wore stricken simultaneously with appen- dicitis at their home here. An ambulance rushed both to a hospital where Ihcy were. o|)(;ratcd on at. the .same time on adjoinint; tables. They arf; now nut (if HunjJ'jr. Bentham Gets Pole Rep ■Jcjscf Kryd, Polish agent, has beCn named' Warsaw rep of M, S, Ben- lh;ini, New York aKCiit. Fryd'.s job will be to .scout Pol.vka lalonl and .scripts for films and Ici-il. He has ali-L-ady subiniltcd ■ r. Mw- rek,' a play. studios. United is rclcusinK outlet for Pa.- vilioii. Ltd., .IlkO di.strihulors in the two CDuntrif.'.s. Pratchett Sails to C. A. A. I.. Piafclielt, PairimoimtJs divi- sion miinuticr for C'.'iilral Ariiurica, who ha.i b':en in New York for honic- officc confab.'^, .sail.s ii'ixt Saturday <,'{) fo) his ho/iK! district. .John .Vnlliiin, I'aj'.s manager In Ar;;'.'iitina, is (Iik; in Y, cither ,'3i'l)l. I.i «i 1,(;. Ilc'.s due to .sail friim iiucuo:; irca this week.