Variety (Apr 1939)

Wednesdaj, AprU 12^ 1939 PIGTORES VARIETY 8 Guflders East Deny ALA Bow^Out Report from the Coast that the Screen Writers Guild plans to with* draw from the Authors League of America and affiliate with tha American Federation of liabor is emphatically denied by Guild mem- bers in New York, It Is acknowledged that the Guild Is contemplating a tie with some sort of labor, organization, but positively stated that there is no intention of severing relations, with the League, Same as- sertion is made by League executives. According to Lillian Hellman, a member of the SWG council, any statement that the Guild is considering a break with the League is 'ab- solutely untrue.' No such action is being or has been thought of, she claims. Committee has been named by the Guild council to study the. matter of affiliation with some labor organization, she explains, but adds that neither the AFL nor any . other outfit was specifically men- tioned. Dashiell Hammett, another Guild council member currently In New York, likewise scouted the possibility of SWG withdrawal from the League. He e^cplained that in the first place it would be unnecessary to quit the League in order to tie lip with the AFL. And in the second place,, he doubts whether the Guild charter or constitution empower it to withdraw from its parent body, ai least without permission from that organization. Marc Connelly, Authors League president, took time out from re- hearsing The Happiest Days' to declare that the Screen Writers will positively not quit the League. He explained that he kiiows there is sentiment in that direction among Guild members and said that, as a Guild member himseU, he would strongly oppose any such action. He also stated that the Guild could affiliate with the AFL without break- ing, with the League and likewise ventured the opinion that in any case the Guild lacks the right to withdraw from Its parent group. Connelly added that the League, as well as the Guild had for years contemplated the prospect of a tieup with the AFL or some other labor body, but said there is no Immediate inclination in that direction. WB Ibps Tab Legtt Exiwriineiit As Substitute for No. 2 Feature After experimenting with the pol- icy at the Lincoln, Union City, N. J., Warner Bros., has. abandoned any Idea of GubsUtuting tabloid legit shows for the second feature on dual bills. Plan was tried with one-hour versions of The Last Mile' and 'Pur- suit of Happiness,' but was described as an outright failure by execs of the chain. No mor« tests of the idea will be made. According to Ellen Spencer, who produced the "Mile' and 'Pursuit' shows for Warners, several other chains are mulling the idea. Among them are said to be RKO, Loew's, Balaban & Katz and Fanchon & Marco. Similar legit-film bill setup was tried on the Coast some years ago, but failed to dick. Miss Spen- cer had hoped Warners would ex- tend the plan to about 50 houses, which would have permitted more expensive productions, name casts, etc. Regular Broadway players were vsed In the two productions at the Union City house. Seth Arnold, who was in the original production of 'Pursuit,V directed the briefle version and played his same part Others In the cast included Viola Roache and Dortha Duckworth. Paul Mann, who played the lead in 'Mile,' is to be screen-tested by Warners. Miss Spencer did the settings and cos- tumes for both shows. Theatre re- tained the same price scale—10c. top. Since the shows were given in a so-called "presentation house,' the venture came uiider American Fed- eration of Actors Jurisdiction, so the usual Equity ruling of eight per- formances weekly did not apply. l*glt portion of the bill was given twice dally. Despite abandonment ot the idea by Warners, Miss Spencer still hopes to do tab versions of 'Street Scene,' Three Men on a Horse,' The Drunkard,' the Noel Coward one-act plays and (in the midwest) The Women.' However, that would depend on whether an- other chain decides to experiment with the plan. BENNY HAS THREE MORE TO GO AT PARAMOUNT Jack Benny has three more pic- tures to go with Paramount under his existing contract, at a reported $125,000 per feature. Completed and awaiting release, no date as yet being set, is 'Man About Town,'. production on which Was interrupted on various occasions hy the gem-smuggling difficulties In- volving Benny. Hugh Herbert Booked For Chi's Oriental at 3G Cliicago, April 11. Hugh Herbert returns to the loop as the Oriental's headliner, week of AprU 21. Played for . Jones, Linick Sc Schae- for last season at the State-Lake. The Oriental date said to ba for $3,000. Lanrel and Hardy Reunite for Roach; Boris Morros' Loan Hollywood, April 11. Hal. Roach, and Stan Laurel have called off their suits, and the comic returns to co-starring with OUver Hardy under Roach's production aegis. Following the settlement Roach closed a deal with Boris Mor- ros for a loanout of Laurel and Hardy to appear in a remake of a French picture to be produced by the former Paramount music head. Laurel-Hardy team will do four four-reelers for United Artists re- lease, under terms of the new deal with Roach. Harry Langdon, who teamed with Hardy in 'Zenobia,' when the Laurel trouble broke, goes back to writing. NEWSREELS ARRANGE ROYALTY VISIT PK Details for covering the visit of England's king and queen to Canada and U. S. next month were mapped out by newsreel representatives in Toronto last week. Official repre- sentatives from the five American newsreels went from N. Y. to the cohfaib with Canadian government officials. Rules as to what the cam- era crews could and could not do were laid down. Royal party is scheduled to visit the New York World's Fair between May 4 and 11, then stop at President Roosevelt's home at Hyde Park, N. Y., thence a call at Washington. Seitz Saves $30,000 Hollywood, April 11.. .Ftfur days ahead of schedule. George Seitz brought in '6,000 Enemies,' his first directorial Job at Metro since his return to the studio after a year at Paramount Speed saved Metro about $30,000. MULL BID FOR 1 CiiHER Scribes Figure Union Back- ing Will Speed Up Pro- ducer Recognition—Weed Out Chiselers in Extra Ranks DENIED IN N.Y. Hollywood, April 11, Screen Writers Guild is mulling a proposal to sever connections with the Authors League of America and to apply for a local charter in the American. Federation of Labor. . A special committee composed of Rob- ert Rossen, Frances Goodrich, Mel- ville Baker,. Judius Epstein and Leonard S. Janofsky, SWG counsel, has been appointed to investigate the advisability of affiliating with a na- tional labor organization. This committee is expected to sub- mit Its findings to the executive l>oar(). within two weelcs, and the recommendations will then go to the membership for approval Action is said to have . been prompted by SWG's long-drawn-out fight for rec- ognition by the producers. Tops be- lieve, that with A.F.L. backing the Guild would have been in a po- sition to force a showdown with the major companies a year ago. Mov« would have the support of the Screen Actors Guild, which is already affiliated, with the A.FX. through its connections with the As- sociated Actors & Artistes of Amer- ica. .If the SWG moves into ranks of A.F.L. it might call for slmUar action by the Screen Directors Guild, in order to bring three big Guilds j closer together than is now possible through their Inter-Talent Council. An- AJ'lj. charter would give the scriveners undivided support o^ more than 25,000 film workers who already, belong to studio locals char- tered by the Federation. These would include actors, teamsters, painters, carpenters, musicians, and lATSE, etc. Final showdown parleys between producers and SWG on writer con- tract are scheduled for this week. If two are unable to get together, SWG will ask the National Labor Rela- tions Board to resume its hearings on unfair labor practice complaint against the major companies. e-Honr Call Too Costly - Tentative agreement by producer attorneys ' for six-hour mininvum work call in studios is said to have caused considerable agitation among film executives when it was learned the proposal would cost nearly $2,- 000,000 a year. Plan would call for an additional expenditure of $250,000 at Metro alone, with proportionate costs at other studios. Plan had been suggested by Jeff Kibre and other leaders of autonomy fight in Technicians Local 37 as a move, to settle various court disputes Involving producers and the Interna- tional Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. Is reported that produc- ers called attorneys into conference and promptlv vetoed the tentative settlement Suggestion was made at a conference between various groups with Dr. Towne Nylander, regional director here for NLRB. The Screen Actors Guild has start- ed a campaign to eliminate cliiselers Mnd runners from the ranks of Class B players in an effort to provide more work for extras and to protect the earnings of those who depend upon the industry for a livelihood. Nearly a score of extras have been cited for. trial under Rule 14 of the SAG by-laws which prohibits an ac- tor from appearing in a picture and at the sanve time participating in the employment of other players. Rule 14 read.s as follows: 'No one who works as a casting director, or who enga';es or selects, or has the right to hire and dis- charge actors, may be a member o( the Guild. Any member who per- forms such function or functions shall be asked to resign, and upon (Continued on page 47) WlamWylerCrossesWB-UAPAs; Gives Wrong Answers, Mugs French Peaniit Boy Los Angeles, April 11. William Holden, nee Beedle, la playing the title role in 'Golden Boy' at Columbia for $50 a week. Salary was revealed in Superior. Court where his contract with Paramount was approved. Pact calls for $50 weekly for six months -and ranges up to $400 ' in seven years. Holden was dis- covered in Pasadena by a Para- mount scout and loaned to Co- lumbia for bis screen debut UHEATSDEAL FORDARRIEUX Hollywood, April 11. Return of Danielle Darrieux to Hollywood is Ihidlcaled by Universal execs, who ate close to an agreement with Gregor Rabliiovlch, French pro- ducer and holder of prior contract to the Parisienne's film services. Studio has been trying to induce Miss Dar- rieux to return ever since her first American picture, The Rage of Paris,' Rablnovlch demanded $400,000 for his contract rights, and Universal cams back with a counter-offer, meanwhile holding two completely scripted stories ready for the star's retiun. Scripts are *Rlo' and 'Almost an Angel,' both on Joe Pasternak's list Invests iB Freach Pie Co. .' Paris, April 3. Danielle Darrieux has stepped into film production here by investing in Films Victoria, directed by Gregor Rabinovitsch, who has rights to the star's' services for the next four years. According to Rabinovitsch, Miss Darrieux has taken a one-third interest In the company. Universal and Rabinovitsch battle over who holds the exclusive rights to the star's service:: resulted in a Paris court ruling awarding the rights to Rablnovltscii, who has a foiur-year pact with her. ELEANOR POWELL^S $5J0OPERSONALS Eleanor Powell has been booked for two weelcs of personals by Loew's at her studio salary. She opens April 27 at the State, New York, and follows i week later into the Capitol Washington. Working with Andy lona's Ha- waiians (6), who appeared with her in 'Honolulu' (M-G), Miss Powell will cost the Loew theatres around $5,700 weekly. She's reported ask- ing more from theatres not affiliated with Metro. Par Sobs Drew For Colbert in Brit "Tears' Hollywood. April 11, Ellen. Drew left yesterday for Lon- don to play the top femme role in Paramount's 'French Without Tears," to be produced by David Rose. . British comedy role was .originally Intended for Claudette Colbert. 4 for Lewis at WB Hollywood, April 11. David Iiewis, newly pacted by.War- ners as associate producer, has four oictures on his slate, beginning with 'You Can't Escape Forever,' rolling May 1, Following' are 'And It All Came True,' 'All This and Heaven, Too' and 'Don Juan.' Philadelphia, April 11. William Wyler, director of 'Wuth- ering Heights,' brought here by United Artists and the Warner cir- cuit to plug the opening of the pic, gave execs of both outfits plenty of need for an aspirin at a press and exhib luncheon tossed in his honor last week. An ex-publiclty man, Wyler refused to give expected Hol- lywood answers, .delighting his in- terviewers by caushig shudders la those responsible for bringing him here and the pja,s accompanying him. First off, he declared that Franc* today is making the best pictures— better than Hollywood, That brought arguments and cajoling from the UA and WB crews, but Wyler wouldn't be budged. 'French pictures,' he said, 'are the best because they have tha best'writers, directors and actors. Especially actors. No one can com- pare with them. No one in America is equal to Remu. Technically only is Hollywood ahead.' Wyler la French-bom, Inasmuch as Wyler up to this point hadn't menttoned 'Wutherins Heights,' a UA p,a. offered the lead- ing question, 'What's, the best picture you've ever scen7*-^^^e-.newsreels,' Wyler shot back, and then went on to plug 'Confessions of a Nazi Spy.' 'Movies should tell what is happen- ing," Wyler explahied, 'and 'Spy* does that I think It will clean up at the boxoffice because It takes sides. Call It propaganda if you want but then let someone com* along and produce a pro-Nazi pic- ture.' The worst newspaper Is better than the best film, Wyler said, becaus* papers tell news that Is 'of vital in- terest to all of 'tts, because it affects all of us, wiiether we live in Europ* bi* not Newspapers are dramatia and exciting.' Wyler said bis next pic will be a blog of Hans Christian Andersen with Gary Cooper. In the lead role. He said he wished to could intro- duce cartoon characters, combining cartoons with flesh In the film. At that point Walt Disney, also at the luncheon, interjected, 'I wouldn't like it it would be like pasting a photograph head on a drawing, ,Th« two just don't go together.' BERLIN'S miC SEQUE TO HIS KAGTIME BAND' ' Hollywood, April 11. Irving Berlin has started on 'Say It With Music,' sequel to 'Alexan- der's Ragtime Band' on the 1939-40 schedule at 20th-Fox. Picture, named after one of Ber- lin's song hits, will contain 25 of his old numbers. Leisen Sez Col Fonkd Contract, Sues for 5Cti Los Angeles, April 11. Mitchell Leisen filed a $60,000 suit against Columbia, charging breach of contract. Director complained he si>nied a 12-we.pk pact March 6 callhig for $4,166.66 weekly, but has received no pay. Weismuller's N. Y. Fair Date; Coogan-Grable Bid Nils T, Granlund, who will operate a concession at the New York World's Fair, is negotiating for Jackie Coogan and Betty Grabl* (Mrs. Coogan) to appear as'a team. He's offering them a combined sal- ary of $3,000 weekly, - Johnny Weismuller has been signed by Billy Rose to star with Eleanor Holm In the Aquacade at the New York World's Fair. Wil- liam Morris office set the deal, Weismuller has a riin-of-the- .show contract, but snecial stipula- tions permit him to withdraw at any time after due notice.