Variety (Feb 1939)

VARIETY PIGTURES Wednesiflaj, Febrnayy 1, 1939 III! ft- |l in iiii.; Dramatists CoDected $11,199^56 For Film Rights in Past Years Figures to support the claim that the present minimum basic agree- ment has not brought about a de« crease in Broadway production and has increased the amount of money from legit film sales are contained in a report being sent this week to Authors League of America mem- bers. Article is by George -Middle- ton, Guild covmcil member, and is contained in the January Authors League bulletin. Report states -that the -total coin collected from film sales by the Guild's negotiator (Sidney Fleischer) under both old and new basic agree- ments has amounted to $11,199,456.66. It concludes that the cimount has not fallen off under the new agreement, since old plays are still being sold to pictures and that, sales since the new agreement went into effect have to- taled $1,440,650, on which the authors received 60% (inistead of 50%, as formerly,) Also claimed that such coin is no.w distributed immediately to author and manager instead of being collected by the manager and the autiior's .Bhare paid at some sub- sequent tiiiie, as was previously the practice. ' Report argues that motion pic- tures (particularly since the advent of sound) have been a major, factor In the decline of the road and the disappearance of istock,' both of which were once a lucrative source of income for authors. As evidence, it Is pointed out tJiat the Guild as- sessments on stock ($1 a week for each play) fell.from nearly $4,000 to practically nothing. Concludes 'so the t[uestion remains whether the average income of a playwright was more or less than today^^ even with picture sales and secure contracts-at a weekly Hollywood 'scale.', Problem of motion picture baicking Is described, as.'a simple one to ^tate; difficult to resolve^ The Guild does not want the-.American theatre to be exclusively-picture-controlled sd that a play without pictur^ poss!^ilities may have' difficulty finding produc- tion elsewhere. ^ It wishes/ managers with private capital to be able to finance such plays under conditions which will enable them to do so equitab^. All managers wotdd ho welcome picture money in the thea^ tre under any unrestricted eitcum' stances; they, too, are sharply divided on this. Wants Highest I*Ic Price 'The Guild also wishes the highest price for its members* picture rights, obtained through real competitive hidding. Failing that, the .highest price, or other returns, depending on a value which can be freely estab lished. Further,, it wishes the author to have pirljpqr control over cast and direction,!,, IJ waints the play honestly to be alliJfVfed to have its full legitimate stage life iii New York and on jQie'Toad. It does not want it wi^j^rawn by' the enforced release of il'plc.t.m^^ version vof itself» thereby Iplling it' as a stAge proposi- tion.' >' Articlfe refers only vaguely to the current negotiations for an agree- ment i,o bring about the retiu^ of Hollywood financing. 'For the first time, authors, managers and picture company rcpresentativ,es happily are trying to find a just solution for all concerned by recognizing one' an- other's problems.' Also mentions somewhat inconclusivtiljiF'^ the gTow- Ing problem of television rights to written works. For 'the first time, an official Authors League publication openly refers to the possibility of a 'closed shop' for all writers. States, 'Out of his experience with the Dramatists Guild, in this writer's opinion, an Authors League shop is not an im- possible goal. There is 6nly one factor needed to bring it about or prevent it—^the authors themselves.' •Article places the present meni be'rship of the Guild at 565 active and 1,687- associate (latter become active, with the right to vote, on hav ing a Broadway production of a play for three successive weeks). There are 66 British members, most of whom are associates. There were about 200 British members when the Guild was I'eorganized in 1926. ritfsh TIeup Regarding a tie-up with the British Society, the report states that the 'Guild would welcome a compulsoiry .or reciprocal group membership and advisory commit- tees for . *ven close cooperation.' Many Guild members belong to the British; Society, but there is no min- imum basic.agreement in effiect ip Hitchcock's Duo for S.I. Hollywood, Jan. 31. Before 'Gone With Wind' is gone, David O. Selznick will start 'Titanic' with Alfred Hitchcock due In from London within two months to di- rect Briton will also pilot 'Rebecca' for Selznick. NOV. im. TAX INCOME TOPS FOR 1938 Washington, Jan; 31. Fall upswing in film business, kept oh through November, and "sent the Treasury's tax receipts from't|»e 10% admissions I^vy during December to he highest peak hi 12 months! In- creasing patronage put $2^020,376 into the Fedefal tUl,^ first tiihe the total has htt the " $2,000,000 mark since December, ld37. The December payments to the Government showed the sixth month-to-month rise this^yeaf but the $35,249 gain over November was only one-tenth the jump over Octo ber. Si^allest of the half-dozen in'- creases. On the year-to-year basis, the De- cember total was materially behind 1937 aid. IJi^ "Trea^iry's ^jookS" re- flected a sliimp in of the 12 months of 193d^ Di^op below the same .stan- za qf pf Idr year was $!^IS$,(S51, whiqh. wa$ the largest difference during the entilre annum* On the Treasury's bookkeeping basis, the' collections during calen- dar 1937 wei:e «fl "$1,312,6&7 but Uttle more than $1^200,000 better than in 1936. Mid-year, tym of the bus! ness tide was evident, though, with the second^h^lf collections running nearly $l,000,00(r over the first six months. Last y^' the thread wajs almost $2^000,000 between the July- December and Jahmary-Jime to^s, 'SEauOIA' MCOBE Hollywood, Jan. 31. A sequel \6 'SequoiA' behiK whipped.up at Metro. Beasties of the wUd have lead roles/ • ' :alif.'s proposed new income tax % Sacramento, JTan. 31. Goverqor Olson, recommended to he legislature a state budget of $557,163,355 for the 1939-41 bien- nium. In the new ,tax program is a proposed increase on Incomes which are as follows; $4,O0O-$5,OOO, rate boosted from to 2%; $6,000 to $7,000 and $8,000^ boosted from 2 to 3%; $9,000 and ;10,000, boosted from 2 to 4%; $11," 000, from 3 to 4%; $12,000 to $14,000, fiom 3 to 5%; $15,000, fi;om 3 to 6%; $20,000, from 5 to 7%; $30,000, from to 7%; $40,000, from 7 to 8%; $50,- 000, remains at 8%, and all over $50,- 009 would remain at the existing rates. Pari-mutuel horse racing license fees would .be increased from the present flat rate of 4% of the money wager to a graduated percentage rangmg from 4% to 7%, depending upon the amount of money handled. This increase is expected to yield ah additional $2,000,000 per bien- nium. Corporation franchise tax will come in for adjustments and clos- ing of loopholes from 4 to 5%. What's This, More Taxes? Los Angeles, Jan. 31. New 20% amusement tax bill, ahned chiefly at football games and lorse races, was introduced by State Asemblyman Hodney .Turner : n Sacramento. Bill doe^ pot. affect admissions of 60c or less. Anolhef bill, introduced by . As- sembjyman. Ernest .Voig3»t, is direct- ed at the Cham system in stores and. theatres. It is a graduated tax, run- ning from $3 to. $250, according to the number of units in the chain. Franco Gov t Wo#|ie Liberal Due To Need tor Coin, Yank Cos. Beteve So. CaLVIondlJft Los Angeles, Jan. 31. Film patrons of Southern Call- contributed $33,396.54 to the iofontlle paralysis drive fund. Of this amount 1131,774.88 waa turned in by Fox-West Coast theatres. This year's figures for th« same district run almost 100% above the 938 collection. ACADEMY MMLS OUT m BALLOTS Pic After Wm Of Roi^ Going SAILINGS Feb. II (New York to Londoix) Cass, Qwen and Topsy (Paris). Feb. 10 (New York to .JiOndpn) Benjamin Miggins, F. L. Harley, Murray Silverstone, Morris Helprin (Queen Mary). Feb. 4 (New York to London) Budd Rogers (Aquitania).' Jan. 31 (South American Cruise) (J. :H. Seidelman (Gripsholm). ' Jan. 28 (New York to London) Oracle Fields, Monty Banks, Donald Ettlinger, Carl Tunberg, Harry Parr- Davies, Eva Turner, Alexander Korda, Irving Asher, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph l^riedman, Jacques Irwin, Martin Licht Argentinita, Pilar Lo- pez, Mr. and Mrs. Ogden Nash, Andre Mertens, Paul "Vincent' Car- roll, Sylvia Sanders (Champlain). Jan. 28 (London to New York) Abe Berman, Herbert Wilcox, C2iester Hale, Nick Long, Jr., Madeleine Car- roll, Jan Kiepura, Marta Eggerth (Normandie). Hollywood, Jan. 31. Hedy Lamarr's flr^t picture on her home lot 'I Tdke This Woman,' was shelved hideflnitely by Metro titer 76 days of troublous shooting. Spen- cer Tracy, go-starring with actress, checked in yesterday (Monday) at 20th-Fox to start ijork in 'Stanley and Livingstone.*' Trouble has dogged 'This Woman' from the start Josef von'Sternberg, Original director ^iila. ideas of his own^ was displaced along with his ideas after a week*s shootmg'. .Frank Borzage, -who succeeded him, had to re-route the story and was further delayed by script problems and ill- ness in the cast. Miss Lamarr and Robert Taylor are paired to go into They Call It Glamour,' yarn about a professional model. ARRIVALS (At the Port of New York) Mr. and Mrs.-Sam Bischoff, Mau rice Eisenberg, Betja Milskaya, Max Schmeling, Paul Makanovitski, Miss Standstrom, Jean Francaix, Monte verdi Singers, Edith TumbuU, Sam Eckman, Jr., Madeline CarrolL Warners' Sasebafl Pic Hollywood', Jan. 31, Warners figures to cash in on base< ball's 100th anniversary with picture titled 'Hit and Run*' witii Pat .O'Brien and Wayne Morris top- ping the batting order. Big league^clubs with-spring train ing camps in California^'wUl act as atmosphere. - E&THAWA7 EITDS IT Hollywood, Jan. 31. Henry Hathaway gets the direct ing job on The End of the World, a 'Vina Delmar yarn bought, by Para- mount a year ago. Charles- Martin' is treating the story, due to roll in March. Hollywood, Jan. 31, The Academy of M. P. Arts and Sciences has mailed out 4,000 ballots tor nommations for ahhual Achieve-: ment awards in the motion picture field. First group to respond Ayas the coiiunittee on art direction, FoUow- : ng productions have been nanied lor consideration: 'Robin Hood' (WBJ, Tom Sawyer' (Selznick), 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' (20th), 'Algiers'. (Waqger), Carefree' (RKO), 'Goldwyn FoUies* (Samuel Goldwyn), 'Holiday'. (Col.), If I Were iCing* (Par), 'Mad About Music' (U), ■'Marie Antoinette' (M-G), 'Merrily We Live* (Roach). Committee is composed of Roland Anderson, Lionel Banks, P«riJy Fer- guson, Charles j|alli H;? A<?[orn- ing, Jack Otterson,' Hans O. Peters, Bertaam Teitelbaum, Lyle Wheeler. Academy has ruled that commer- cials will not be accepted as eliglbles in short subjects awalrds.' Commit tee handling nominations in this di' visipn has already started viewing nommations, but winner will not be selected xmtil a few days before the annual Academy banquet Feb. 23. Foreign department heads with American companies are watching developments in Spain closely to determine Itist What domination of the Spanish government by Franco and his forces would mean .to tha picture business. While it may be several weeks be- fore the scope of the Franco victory in E^celona is fully determined, just how strongly fascist the new government would be should Franco ultimately gain control is not pre- dictable. Because of'the insurgent tieup Willi Germany and Italy, there are those who see the possibility of a Hebel victory resulting in a restric- ive distribution .alignment similar o that now* effective in those coun- tries. Other American companies believe a liberal government in Spain is conceivable liiecause of obvious need of revenues to replenish treasury coffers emptied by the conflict. Un- derstood that' IJ. S. distributors would'not object strenuously to usual war taxes if ^uniformly applied be- cause it would open a market that las been more or less closed by the warfare^ While American companies have attempted tq maintain some sem- 3lance of their old exchange setups in Spain, distribution has been con- fined almost entirely to oldie fea- vres. The revenue that has come Out has been negligible, with Ameri- can distributors carrjing on at a .OSS in hopes of. cessaitipn of fighting. RADIO SERIES MAY mm wmnm Mayer's Trainer's Ranch Sacramento, Jan. 31. Howard. Oots,. Kentucky horseman and-newly appointed manager of the racing and breeding interests of Loids B. Mayer, has. purchased, the 1,580-acre ranch near Yreka, but .de- nied he was acting as Mayer's agent in -the deal. Oots said he .purchased, the ranch, which has a six-mile training track and 60 box stalls, on his own accoimt and plans to breed and train horses there. Mayer Protests Hollywood, Jan. 31. Louis B. Mayer does not care to be a stooge for race track press agents, even though he does own a stable ol! horses. Metro flacks filed a protest with L. A. sporting editors against the yarn that Mayer is trying to buy the Narragansett track in Rhode Island. Story, planted in the local papers by a freelance press agent, was that R. I. Taub, supposed to represent Narragansett stockholders, had been dickering with Mayer for a Week. Metro exec says he never saw or talked with Taub. CATCEIT, JB., TO WED Sacramento, Jan. 31.. Richard Catlett, 25,- adopted son of Walter Catlett, film comedian, this week filed notice of intention to marry Alexandra Romander, San Francisco department store cashier Young Catlett is an advertising decorator. London and consequently no Guild shop. Middleton, who wrote the article, was chairman of the committee which' drew up the first minimum basic agreement and was Guild pl-esident from 1G27 to 1929. Ex- plained, that the opinions expressed are his own, but that 'all data has been checked by the office staff and the motion picture negotiator. Re- p'ort runs 22^ pages. OAer News of hterest to Flms Lawrence Bearson, adaptor of the Paul de Kruif series, 'Men Against Death/ for the Federal Theatre Radio. Division^ has an pf^er from Hollywood to aid in adapting the series for the screen., Query ,pn ownership of ri^ts to the books and other details was made thrpiigh Walter Kane, Hollywood agent. Unnamed film company is said to be interested, in transferring the medical dramas to the screen. FTRD received rights to th^ir itse gratis from the author. L. A. to N. Y. Julian Blaustein. Nate Blumberg. Mort BlumenstOck. Hugo Butler. Ralph Clark, Sr. tUchard Condon. Jack Cummings. James EllisOn. Don Ettlinger. Leon Fromkess^ iBdward Golden. John Huston. Henry Hathaway. Robert T. Kane. Milton Krims. Arthm: Kemp. Johnny Murphy.. Capt. Dennis F. O'Brien. Ernest Pagano. Edward C. Raftery. Roy Rowland. James Saphier. Dore Schary. Ed SchiUer. S. S. Schneider. Gradweli Sears. Murray Silverstone. John Stone. Carr Tunberg. Minna Wallis. Walter Wanger. George W. Weeks. British labor's quota beef Page 11 Radio strike crisis ' - Pages 21-22 Bob Burns' brother •. Page 22 Radio reviews: John and Elaine Barrymore, Jesse L. Lasky, Frank Fay, Bert Lytell, Ben Bernie, Johnny Green, Hedda Hopjper, Jessie Matthews ; Page 26 Harry Warren will renew WB '.... .Page 37 'American Way' capacity , ...Page 49 Harry Bannister pays off old claim Page 49 N. Y. to L. A. Andre Algazy. Clark Andrews. Mr. and Mrs. Sam Bischoff. J. Cheever Gowdin, Edna Ferber. Fran Frey. Robert M. Gillham. Edward Everett Horton. Sidney Howard. Ludvig Lawrence. Arthvu: Loew. Mr. and Mrs. David Loew. Lleanor Powell. Edward G. Robinson. Leon Schlesinger. Joe Shea. Claire "Trevor. John Hay Whitney.