Variety (Sep 1938)

•VARIERV IiONDON OTW1CTC, I St. Mart to't gl»e», Trafalgar miiiw INTERNATIONAL NEWS CnMe AddrtMl VARIETX, LONDON Tolcphone Tempi* Bar MIl-BMt 11 Hew South Wales Would Have Natl Quota, Not Imperial, to Restrict Law Sydney, Aug. 17. , t n 0W looks as though the New outh Wales government would Sits hands of any quota for this by recommending a national S B is popularly called an In> «rial Quota but the meaning is in- Ended to cover Australia, according nbreserit understanding, since it is Sileved not to be the intention to include India, Canada or South ju^ica in any such setup as the name might imply.. . .. While Queensland, Victoria and South Australia, are pressing for some sort of workable quota, in- cluding protection against what they describe as exorbitant rentals charged by U. S; distributors, prob- lem of getting various states to agree to a national quota statute is m ore difficult than appears on the surface. Certain states obviously would have nothing to do with a Sweeping quota law. They doubtless would point to India and Canada as prov- ing their point that these countries and exhibitors in them are able to get along without quota setups. New South .Wales, government knows that American' distributors will not . be forced into " quota pro- duction and realize that both its quota .laws have been failures. Hence, despite'heavy pressure on the government here. Premier Stevens has hinted that his ministerial party, is not keen on shouldering: every- thing' and would prefer passing a portion of the present mess onto fed- eral authorities, ing ' the na- tional quota. Though ..British Interests are known to be pushing for bigger out- lets for their own product,, big catch in any Imperial Quota lies in the f«et that Great Britain took a slap it Australian picture production in Its own new- quota act. Rumblings under the surface, about eicessive film rentals and charges that U.. S. distributors get around restriction rights indicate that there will be plenty of fireworks in the next.few months. 11TH WK. IN SYDNEY , Sydney, Aug. 14. Respite a good lineup of U. S. and Irtish pictures,. biz; with a couple M_exceptions, continues at a so-so tbb, Walt, Disney's "Snow White* niKO) experienced no difficulty at bifUng a weeks, with more ahead. I See Ice' (BEF) and 'Divorce of Hoy X' (UA) doing exceptionally well for the British side. 'Bad Man , "mstone' (M-G) had average *" weeks, but Three Comrades' (M-G) appears set for run. 'Jungle wve (Par) f»ded out, with 'Cocoa- nut Grove' (Par) in for doubtful try. vivacious Lady' (RKO) medium ana made way for 'Gold Diggers in Pans' (WB). J$£* 'he Li V (G-B) no high, win We're Going to Be Rich' (20th) nexn 'There's Always a Woman' Ul) may make the grade, but pub- j^s little weary of such nutty fare. "<ekly-change is pretty solid cur- tly with 'Scrapper' (BEF) and £w of the Underworld' (RKO). **sr 1 biz maintains a high level '" the time. elboarne'a Upbeat ^ Melbourne. Aug. ^ws been a tough tim for manage- ™ws here, but trade now on" the S 6 * 8 '. ist shows 'Zola' (WB), «nproof (M-G), 'Rosalie' (M-G), Itn^ nsle (Par) ' 'Tovarich' •«*.,! ' M erry-Go-Round 1938' (U) "» Under Red Robe' (20th): 'Let r° r , ge Do If (BEF) is a click for locals. Auckland Looks Up . Auckland; N, Z.. Aug. ta„lf ht bi!: in Auckland. Welling- n. Chnstchurch and Dunedin with hmu . Pilot ' <M-G); 'Wife, Doctor, "«rse (20th), 'Angel' (Par). 'Baroh- ^ and Butler' (20th ). 'Bri ing Uo (RKO), 'Rosalie' ( ) and ue »i End' (UA). London. Aug. 30. >no w While' (RKO) is in its 27th at the New Gallery, London, Lee Tracy Clicks As Lead in London Idiot' London, Sept.. 6; Lee Tracy, fresh from Hollywood, stepped into Raymond Massey's lead role in 'Idiot's Delight* at the Apollo here last week and scored handily. Massey left the cast to go to New York as the lead in the Five Play- wrights Co; production of 'Abe Lin- coln in Illinois,' due on Broadway Oct. 17. Playing opposite Tracy is Tamara Geva, who did the same with Massey. Following Tracy's success, the 1U braries made .a new, deal for the show the following day. Opening Thursday night (1) at the Lyric, Charles organ's 'Flash- ing Stream' showed itself to be too highbrow for general appeal. Mor- gan is drama critic of the London Ti Godfrey Tearle, who's pre- senting the play, is also taking a leading role. 'Maritza' folded at the Palace Sat- urday (3) ithoiit notice, and the backer, who claims to have invested $90,000, says he will open with play shortly at another larger theatre at cheaper prices; SANDRINI PLANS PARIS MODE OF INT1 Paris. Aug. 29. Pierre Sandrini, French producer; who had his share in the first New York International Casino show, will have this town sewed up for that type of nitery by the end of the year if present plans materialize. Already the operator of the Bal Tabarin, one of the largest and most successful spots of" its kind in Eu- rope, Sandrini hopes to go himself one beUer in December when he rer opens his Moulin-Rouge with a revue, planned as one of the biggest things ever produced here; Present sched- ule calls for an on-comer of the same type as that .now running in the Bal, but on a larger., scale, which this larger spot can accommodate. Sandrini is presently, putting the greater portion of his attention on a new revue for the Bal, which is scheduled to go in early in Novem- ber, with the Moulin Rouge coming as soon afterwards as possible. ALEXANDER MARTON DEAD IN BUDAPEST Budapest, Aug. 26. Alexander Marton, leading Hun- garian drama agent, died of heart failure while staying with friends. Marton was instrumental in open- ing the foreign market to Hungarian plays. He represented the great ma- jority of. leading Magyar authors, such as Molnar, Lengyel, Eodor, etc. Widow and two sons; George Mar- ton, playbroker of Vienna, now of Paris, and En 're Marton, .film pro- ducer, ' and a daughter, Baroness Hatvany, survive. Jeff Bernerd and G-B Settle; He's on Riviera London, Sept. 6. Jeffrey Bernerd has secured a sat- isfactory remuneration for cancella- tion of his contract with Gaumont- British. He's now in the south of Fiance. 'Music,' Tollies' Hold Strongly in Copenhagen .Copenhagen, Aug, 30. lm revivals strong here rst-i-uns are garnering the major coin. 'Professor, Beware' (Par) got a cool reception at the Metropole. 'Jezebel,' in its second week at the Scala-Bio, won't last much longer. IMad About Music' (U) is a big click at the Palladium and 'Goldwyn Fol- lies' (UA) Is likewise at the Kino Palaet. Five first-run theatres- are playing the Danish comedy, The Male Housemaid' (Asa) to good box- offices. LOEW ENCORING Arthur Loew, head of etro's in- ternational department, this week decided to start on another extensive tour of world exchanges,. leaving New York, Sept. 28. He will go i - mediately to Paris for conferences with Laudy Lawrence, who called off contemplated trip to U. S. when he learned of Lbew's coming visit Loew also will confer with Sam Eckman, Jr., i While abroad, Loew will visit prin- cipal key cities of Europe. Just now it is not known whether his trip will extend beyond European capitals but it is probable that present «ne will be the first leg of a tour Including South America and the Far East. The Metro foreign chief last year started for' Australia and adjacent territory shortly before the close of 1937. He was absent .about six months. Loew left yesterday (Tuesday) for the Coast for studio confabs pre- paratory to European tri Planed out and will be back by airplane Friday (9). PIPER SEES JAPANESE FOREIGN BAN LIFTING Opti ism over the prospect of early settlement of the coin and pic- ture stymie in Japan, expressed gen- erally in the last few weeks by in- dustry officials, also was voiced this week by Jf. W. Piper, Paramount's manager in Japan, now in New York for home-office huddles.' Piper, who leaves today (Wednesday) for the Coast end shortly their fter for Tokyo, said that the deal of eight major companies with the Japanese government, seemed hearer solution than it has for some time. There will not be the free and open market of the past in Japan, he indicated, but some sort of a three- year deal for unleashing coi in that country and permitting some U. S. films, in for distribution now is being negotiated with prospect of early success. Paris Prepares Big Legit Program After Worst Summer in Yrs.; Deval, Guitry, Bernstein Map Productions Paris, Aug. 28. lthough deader this summer than in many slack seasons of the past, the French legitimate theatre is planning i most formidable pro- gram in years. First one due to appear is a world premiere and is in English. The English Players,' headed by Edward Stirling, will present the English- banned 'Brave New World/ by Al- dous' Huxley, and adapted by Louis Walinsky, at the Theatre de TOeUvre this month. This is the second play banned in England that the English Players are presenting here this, year, 'Oscar Wilde' having been played during the summer season. Among, the revivals, which have, already reopened, or will open be- fore the end of the month, are the operetta, The Tour of the World in 80 Days/ by.Ennerj and Jules Verne, at the Chatelet; *Le Misanthrope,' at the Theatre des Anibassndcurs, with Alice Cocea and Jean Louis 3arrauit in the leads; 'Altitude 3,200/ which will hold down the first part of the season at the Theatre' Pigalle, and 250 US. PIX INTO ITALY CUT TO ISO Tom Mix, Diamond Bros. Click in London Vaude London, Sept. 6. New bill at the Palladium, which has 10 foreigners out of 11 acts, is the most expensive one of the sea- son. Heavy outlay for lineup prom- ises to yield a hefty take. Tom Mix, Diamond Bros, and Chil- ton and Thomas go over but the Winter Sisters are only fair. Bob Ripa, last-minute replacement be- cause of indisposition of Lucah and McShane, is ah effective opener.. Prospect that the Italian-tr. S. film agreement of 1936, arranged through the activity of Will Hays in Rome, would be changed and the number of films per itted into Italy cut from 250 to 150, loomed this week. That, was the unofficial word from Italy, which was partially substantiated, by the fact that distributors of. Ameri- can pictures were unable to import further films till the Mussolini gov- ernment assigned quotas. Italian authorities failed to designate quotas early this month for the final quar- ter of the year, according to' infor- mation received in New York. No official confirmation of any drastic change in quota arrangement has been received by the Hays office in N.. V Y. However,.it was indicated by Haysians,. a reduction in the num- ber might be. attempted because of the present Italian monetary situa- tion; A need for more coin in Italy may have something to do with a plan to reduce the number of foreign -^American and others—pictures into that territory. Balcon Vice Dean and will continue to be shown through the rcgulai London release dates, Sept. 19 for North London, and Sept. 26 for South London. There is a likelihood the New. Gal- lery first-run will run until Christ- mas. Picture reported to have ex- ceeded $500,000, passing Radio City's five-week ■mark,' which just .fell short of $500,000. London^ Sept. 6. Basil Dean, out of Associated Brit- ish Film Distributors, has been re- placed on directorate by Michael Balcon. AUSTRIAN EMIGRES TO FILM ANSCHLUSS Paris, Aug. 26.' • Austria Fil , production company, founded in Paris by, emigrant Au- strian film people, will shortly start shooting a feature on the Anschluss in French. Nora Gregor, erstwhile actress of Vienna Burgtheatre, and wife of the Heimwehr chief, Prince Starhem- berg, one of the first emigres of the Hitler era. will play the leading part.' Proposed title is.'Sans Patrie' (' With- out Country'). Hall's Korda Chore J. B. NATHAN TO N.-Y. . John B. Nathan, Paramount's man- I aging director for Argentina, Uru- guay and Paraguay, is due to reach • New York next week for scries of homeoffice parleys. It will be Nathan's first visit to N. Y. in the last' two- and one-half j years. Hollywood, Sept. 6. Jon Hall, borrowed by Alexander Korda from Samuel Goldwyn, ling to London for■ the top role in '■ 'The Thief of Bagdiid,' once played ' by Douglas Fairbanks. •Sigrid Guric, slated for a part in the British production of "Burmese 'ilvcr, also on a loanout from Gold- wyn, isn't going over after all. AI-. } leged passport trouble—or. just a I Goldwyn press gag. 'Le Corsaire/ at the Theatre de TAthenec, . Other revivals include 'Les Jours Heureux' at the Theatre Michel and 'Plutus' with Charles Dullin at the L'Atelicr, Sacha Guitry has his .hand in at least one and'possibly two new plays for the season. The first, as yet un- selcctcd, will open the season at the Madeleine and Will of course star Guitry and Jacqueline Dclubac, ith Andre Lefaur and Elvirc Popescd in- cluded in the. cast. Some considera- tion is also being given to his 'De- jazet,' with Gaby Morlay in one of the leads, but that would not be shown before January. New Bernstein Play Henry Bernstein comes next with a hew play called 'Fortune/ to be produced at the Gymnase, with Claude Dauphin, Michele Alfan, Jean Davy and Jeanirie Crispin holding the top parts. This is expected to make its appearance next month while a revival will, hold down , the bill until then. Jean Giraudoux will have two new plays shown- during the coming season. The first will be his own adaptation of his 'Bella/ which will replace 'Le" Corsaire' the Athenee, when the latter closes. The second is only a one-act play, 'Le Cantique des Cantiqucs (The Chant of Chants'), but shares honors with TricolOre/ by Pierre Lestrin- guez, as being the first of modern works to be presented at the Com- cdie-Francaise. Both due this month. The other national theatre, the Odeon, is also going modern, with a new play, 'Le President Haude- coeur/ by Roger-Ferdinand, slated to open the season there. To be seen for the first time in this country are a French adaptation of Clare Booth's 'Women' by Jacques Deval and . George Bernard Shaw's 'L'Argcnt n'a pas d'Odeur;' The first will be presented at the Theatre Pigalle,. when 'Altitude 3,200' closes, by The Young Associated Comedians, headed by Jane Marnac, Who will also produce. The second will show at the Mathurins, to be followed later in the season by 'Danger of . Death,' a comedy by Maurice Diamant- Berger. Louis Verneuil, whose Train'pour Venise' ('Train for Venice') enjoyed a long run here last year, and has since been made into a film, will-see at least one of his new plays pro- duced. 'Leonidas,' his latest four-act comedy, is scheduled for either the Theatre de Paris or the Theatre Marigny, with Zita" Perzel, Pierre Brasseur and Marcel Simon in the leads. 'La Femme de ma Vie' (The Wo- man of My Life'), another new Ver- neuil comedy, will see light this fall, too, but its premiere Is planned for Brussels. It will undoubtedly see Paris before the year is out, how- ever. He also collaborated with Georges Berr on 'Le Coffre-fprt Vivanf ("The Living Strongbox'), with music by Maurice Yvain and Josept Szulc, which will replace the present operetta at the Chatelet in November. Wlllemetz Revues On the operetta and revue side Rip and Albert Willemetz will have two of the latter to their credit, first to be 'God Save Paris' for the sea- son's lead at the Bouffes-Parisiens, with Dorville and J. Gael topping, and the second, as yet unnamed, calls for an opening at the Michodiere, with Yvonne Printemps, Pierre Fres- nay and Victor Boucher slated for the leads., 'Paris' is to be followed by 'Mes Amours' ('My. Loves'), by L. Marchahd and Wil'emctz, with Belle Baker and Michel imori being mentioned as the leads! Maurice Lehmann has adapted 'Balalaika' from the English and has taken, over the Mbgador to offer that operetta this month. There will also be the standar fall revue productions at the Folics- Rergei-c, the'Casino de Paris and the Alcazar. Jeanne Aubert is slated to head the first. Maurice Chevalier the second and iho third will be another MarseiHaisc revue, with Godett, Mi'riellc and Porisnrd in the lead's. I Others are bound to show as the season progresses. At least one other , cinema, besides the Tigalle, is ex- : peeled to turn legit showcase, the Edouard VII, with Madame Hen- ; riette Pasear taking over ;manage- ment. No play has yet been set there, however.