Variety (Aug 1939)

2 VARIETY PICTURES WedneBday, August 2, 1939 FILM B. 0. OF SOME MODERATE PLAYS AUGURS WELL FOR H'WOOD-BmY DEAL 'Skidding/ a Cut-Rater, Sold for $7,500 to Metro, Became the 'Andy Hardy' Series—'Dark Victory' Another—Also Some Big-Money Stage Hits CAPRA-RISKIN MAY YET STAY COLUMBIA ZUKOR-HICKS OPEN AUSSIE SALES MEET Hollywood is looking for a dif- ferent shuffle in the negotiations of the pending agreement covering re- sumed financing of legit shows, but there U litUe doubt that the picture end has become more interested m Broadway production possibilities than when the liaison of the two Coasts started. SUted that at least three major film firms are more lhan moderately motivated in lhat clirec-j tion. including one that virtually ledl the walk-out of film coin three sea-1 ——- sons back. For that reason, show- m^n are confident that the differ- There .s a strong possibility that «nces over the pact will be dissi- \ the new Frank Capra-Robert Riskin pated and agreement constimmnled i combination will remain in the Co- before, or by the time the new sea-' j^^^^^.^ p■^^^^r^s fold, "hey are now *°Srlhterest"is b.sed on plain j considering a new offer made by black and red rejsons, as indicated' Harry Cohn 10 days ago, just before by the ledger history of ordinary n\skin sailed for a vacation abroad. sUge plays when converted into eel-1 ^apra can virtually write his own luloid. The studio success from such ■ ; . ,. ^ , u- sUge material was not an isolated, ticket al Columbia. Columbia prexy Instance. Several film clicks during Cohn is also said to have offered to the past season emanated from mildjigj Capra have first crack at the origin, A-product coming from playsUtudios' own contract players, writ- which were secured for compara- grs, etc. tively small money. | Cohn has always stated that Capra Because of that it is figured; and he have an understanding Col; Hollywood will favor backing plays; would get first crack at any unit which do not call for high produc-! setup. tion costs. Some Broadway stand-i outs, rights for which picture people | f,^^^^ Abroad on Dealg paid big prices, turned out to be, Hollywood, Aug. 1. doubtful screen grossers, if not dis-; „g,.jy ^ohn, who sails tomorrow tinct flops. Doubtful, therefore, ".(Wednesday) for Europe, will be musicals will get much Coast flnanc-i.g,,^^^^ weeks, during which Ing and that probably goes for other i^^^ ^e will negotiate picture deals types of shows that would require I for French and English product. Sydney, Aug. 1. Adolph Zukor, Paramount's trav- eling 'good-will ambassador, and John W. Hicks, Jr., foreign sales chief, arrived here yesterday (Mon.) for the sales convention of Par rep- resentatives frorh New Zealand, Australia and the Far East, which opened today. They were given a tremendous reception, this being Hicks' first visit back to Australia since he l^ft here in 1932. When h9 left Australia, the industry was working harmoniously.' ■ Taking advantage of the spotlight being thrown on Zukor and Hicks, the local Motion Picture Exhibitors Assn. is talking of trying to boy- cott several official functions, Squawks on rentals is reported back of this move by several disgruntled exhibitors. He's also likely to London piroduction. arrange for heavy bankrolling. Currently there are two instances | of in-between stage attractions blos- soi>.ing into capital pictures. One is I 'Daughters Courageous,' which had a modern coin , stay on Broadway un-j der the-title of 'Fly Away Home,' originally tried out in a summer the- atre. The estimated price of the film rights was around $15,000. Compared to the screen history of "Boy Meets Girl,' rights for which were placed at around $100,000 after a clean-up stage engagement. Is in sharp con- trast. Another play which has developed into exceptional picture material was 'Skidding,' which, on Broadway at the Bayes Roof theatre, was rather kicked around. Play stuck around j^, change in fiscal year, authorized for an extended period, but always stockholders last January, corn- to small grosses and really kept pg^y reporting resulU of six going by cut-rates. The characters months' business ending June 30. Mono's Half-Yr. Report To Show Profit; 6 Mos. Previous, $133,000 Loss Monogram Pictures' six months re- port, which will go out to stockhold- ers late this month, will show the company Is operating in the black, as compared with a loss of $133,000 for the first six months of 1938. Due Half of Von Herberg's $234,471 Community Property to His Wife Seattle, Aug. 1. Judge Donald McDonald in su- perior court, after months of litiga- tion, has settled the community property of J. G. Von Herberg, Pa- cific Northwest theatre man, and his former wife in which the court held the holdings as worth $234,471.76. Of this amount, the former Mrs. Von Herberg was awarded $117,370.88 plus^$12,059.90 delinquent alimony. Theatre owner is petitioning that he be relieved from further litiga- tion following service of five ac- tions where lawyers and business men seek a total of $25,034. He claims he has already deposited $20,- 000 into court registry as directed by Judge McDonald for settlement of these bills. Other News of Interest to Films iuiy'i overtures.to U. S. films..... -^^x^.":.?" U. S. nixes Venice for Cannes.... Page 17 Copyright bill ., Page 30 Vallee's career and the C.A.B Page 31 Radio reviews: George Raft, ArUe Shaw, Erin O'Brien- Moore .......Page 40 Television reviews Page 41 Tin Pan Alley's unionism Pafie 43 FTP 100% cold • ....Page 49 Zorina's Broadway show Vage 50 Helen Hayes dodges L.A. for European vacash Page 51 Alice Brady's legit plans.... • Pa^e 52 Tax Claims on Schenck, Zanuck Attorneys for 20th-Fox Execs Don't Think They Owe More Money—Bill Goetz Ditto—Probe on Bioff GOLDSTONE'S $250,000 CHARITY DONATION Hollywood, Aug. 1. Phil Goldstone, producer and fi- nancier, deeded $250,000 in Holly- wood properties to the Los Angeles Free. Consumptive Home, aiding its payoff of mortgages, etc. Goldstone and Warners have been active In supporting the home for the past 15 years. Goldstone's mother, who died a year ago, had been instrumental in getting con- tributions for the home, and Gold- stone's: donation was in her memory. and background, rather than play itself, has been used for the! the 'Andy Hardy' scries, rated one of the most profitable types of films. "Skid- ding' rights went for $7,500. Other instances of stage failures being turned into stellar film fea- tures include 'Dark Victory.' Drama attracted attention on Broadway, but 1939, as in effect a full fiscal yenr. ; Net profit will run to approximately $60,000. Inasmuch as Mono never has con- ducted busines on a quarterly basis, the next financial report to stock- holders for a full fiscal year will not be issued until August, 1940. Four English quota films made by Rowland's First at UA Hollywood, Aug. 1.. Richard A. Rowland's . first .film under his United Artists deal will be "Three Cheers for Miss Bishop,' starring Barbara Stanwyck. Script is based on Bess Street' Aldrich's novel, 'Miss Streeter." He expects to start within 45 days. Archie Mayo to direct. Deal, whereby he contributes two features to 1939-40 program, and four for 1940-41, calls for minimum budget of $650,000 for each. seemed to just miss and ended in the pjaHo pictures abroad for Palhe ref Same applies to the comedy. A! Film. Ltd., will be distributed by Slight Case of Murder.' both Alms Monogram in the U. S., according to retaining the stage titles. There are ^^^d brought back by W. Ray John- plenty plays which were filmed to ston president, on his arrival from far greater effect than was possible on the stage, 'Stage Doo"' being an oustanding example. Film rights cost $130,000. Too, there have been stage successes which brought high prices in Hollywood and which earned big money as pictures, such as 'You Can't Take It With You' ($200,000 . film rights) and 'Three Men on a Horse.' Later was film- backed so that the investrnent was highly profitable. Film buy, $125,000. However, there is likely to be a ^ trend towards backing productions: of modest cost, the principal reason ' why the advance royalty figure of| $15,000 is considered too high. In the ; event'film-backed plays are hits, the : picture rights will not be as costly; to Hollywood as before, for the rea- Europe on Monday (28). Three films 'Irish Molly,' 'Dark Eyes of London' and 'The (bang's All Here' are com- pleted and a fourth, 'Trader Spy,' is going into work Monogram will release 32 pictures in England during the 1939-40 sea son, under a decisiori reached in London with W. J. Gell, managing director of Pathe Pictures, Ltd. Johnston conferred while abroad on this as well as the pictuires that would be marketed as 10 In the top brackets. An untitled Jackie Cooper film heads the 'A' group. Johnston while abroad also dis- cussed the outlook for production,in England by Mono of a half-dozen or so films. Ralph. Bettinson, Pathe represen STAEBRKIN U PIC AT 125G SAVING son that the picture end will not tative in Hollywood, and George only participate in the ;.tage engage-' ment profits, but a portion of the rights money would be refunded, since the backer would participate in the managerial end. N. Y. TOL. A. Laurence Brilcnson Howard Da Sylva Ned Deplnet. Herbert Drake eamuel fioldw^n Mrs. Sam'l Oo^dwyn • (Fiancee Howard) ■Mlok Hyams. Garson KanlD. Bert I.a1ir. Manb Millar. Charlo.i B. Cariliy S. Barrett Mc- Connlck. Herbert Hud ley William' Saroyan. - GeorEe J. Sclincfer. I.oula Ahnnlleld Fred J?lorm Kenneth Thomson. West, Mono franchise holder, made the trip abroad and back with Johns- ton, Latter will probably go to the Coast shfil-tly. SAILINGS Aug. 19 (Caribbean cruise) Mar. garet Scheuermann (Munarga). - Aug. 16 (New York to London) Leslie Howard.Walter Futter, George P'Ncil (Aquitania). Aug. 12 (New York to London) Jake Milstein (Dixie Clipper). Aug. 2 (London to New York) Howard Dietz (Queen Mary). Aug. 2 (New York to London) Norma Shearer, Edward G. Robin- son, George Raft, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Hope, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Lyon (Bebe Daniels), Harry Cohn, Mr. and Mrs. Milton Sperling.'(Betty Warner), Nat Deverich, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Mil- ler, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Boyer (Pat Patecson), Mr. and Mrs. Nor- man Z. McLeod (Normandie). Aug. 1 (London to New York) Wil- liam Morris, Jr. (He de France). July 29 (New York to Paris) Paul Paray. Henri Merckel, Vladimir Golschman, Mrs. Agnes Fowler, Jane Fowler, Helen J. Sioussat (Cham- plain). July 29 (New York to London) Gilbert Frankau, Margaret Culkln Banning, Charles Mertz (Mauretania) July 2a fNew York to Genoa) Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. Pettijohn,- Dr, Vladimir Zworkln (Saturnia). Hollywood, Aug..l. John M. Stahl did a production miracle for Universal in bringing in his current picture, 'When To morrow Comes,' $125,000 under bud- get, at cost of $1,200,000. Besides, he did the task.in six days under schedule' as well as shooting 130,000 feet of stock le.ss than he did on his previous opus, 'Letter of In^ troduction.' Stahl is now cutting the picture, and Maurice Piver, film editor of studio, leaves for New York Friday (5) with the negative to get prints ready for general distribution, which starts In the eastern sector Aug. 12. Charles' Boyer, who recently fin ished 'When Tomorrow Comes' with Irene Dunne, arrived Monday (31) in N. Y., and sailed for Europe to- day (Wed.). L. A. TO N. Y. .Sptini; B.vlnglon. Don Drown. .r.tck (;urtlA. •r«cl Curtis. Hctle ' Da-vlB. t^eorgA Fisher. Jack tfaley EvroX Flynn. M«fk ^ordrtn. Georee Gruekln. .U. .Tohn D. }leriv jAck Lelffhtrr. Robert Mmk ■ Mnx MlUler. Jnck Sklrball Howard SnyOer, Jack Stinnelt. Harry M. Warnfr HuKh Wedlock, Jr, Zorlna. ARRIVALS Arthur Silverstone, Sam Burger, W. Ray Johnston, Garson Kanin, Mrs. Morton Downey (Barbara Bennett), F. Wachsberger, Sam Levene, Vyyyan Donner, Arthur Tracy, Antoine de Saint Exupery, Lewis Buddy, Jr., Sergei Koussevltzsky, John Royal, Alice Marble, Benoit-Leon Deutsch Mr. and Mrs. Donald Oenslager. Trendle Staying On A Bit Until Detroit Chief Is Designated Reaching no official decision on the future operation of the United De troit Theatres chain, group. of 17 houses in Detroit, Paramount has re quested George W. Trendle to remain on a short while longer, possibly week or so, to aid Paramount In the situation. Earl K. Hudson, next in charge to Trendle, continues as the likely head of the string of Detroit houses. Leon Netter, general manager of the Par theatre department, and Leonard Goldeoson, executive of the same de parlmeiit under Barney Balaban, re- turned to New York Monday morn ing . (31) after discu.ssing the situa tion in Detroit with Trendle, Hud.son and others. An official announce menfwill be made by Balaban when a decision is reached. : Trendle, anxious to be* relieved of duties in connection with the Par theatres, resigned as of Sept. 1, but asked that he be relieved of the the. atres Aug. 1, turning them over as of that date to Paramount. Under the latest development he is staying on beyond this date. Hudson is going in, under reports, with probably another man from the Par operating ranks—someone who has been running theatres for the company—as his aide. Washington^ Aug. 1. Due bills against Joseph M. Schenck are still outstanding after Justice Department parley, at which "Treasury Department attor- neys listened attentively to the stu- dio exec. Revealing existence of third complaint against the 201h Cen- tury-Fox Films' board chairman, in a tax claim by the Government, At- torney General Murphy announced Thursday (27) the next step has not been decided. Three-pronged Fedjeral attack al.so involves several other individuals. No decision has been made as to fate of these with sole exception of Willie Bioff, prominent International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Em- ployees figure. Treasury's charg* that the union boss sought to de- fraud the U. S. goes before a grand jury in U. S. District Court at Los Angeles next month. In attempt to clear up confusion about the Inter-related film tax ac- tions, Aiurphy outlined the situation as follows: 1. In company with Darryl Zanuck, William Goetz, and three others never named. Uncle Sam thinks Joe Schenck owes additional taxes in. connection with profits from stock involved In the 20th Century-Fojt Films merger. 2. The Treasury charges Bioff de- liberately failed to report certain in- come, reputedly payments by pro- ducers, and dodged taxes. 3. Questions have been raised about individual tax returns of Schenck, in which Joseph M. Moskowitz, his per- sonal representative in the east, had a hand. The conference last Tuesday (25) was a thorough canvass of all th* Treasury complaints in which Schenck is involved, with special at- tention to the matters relating to Bioff, Murphy indicated. Schenck frankly discussed all details and of- fered himself for cross-examination' by lawyers for the two departments, the A.G. commented. Standing pat on advice given him by his attorneys, Schenck insists he owes nothing on account of the slock transactions related to the blending of the two studios. Murphy said. Apparently referring to the finan- cial snarl enmeshing Bioff, he said the situation Is 'somewhat unusual.' 'It presents an interesting and not altogether clear issue. It is differ- ent from most cases,' Murphy added. The part played by Arthur Steb- bins in the Bibfl case was not made clear by the Federal prosecutor. Reported that Schenck has offered to pay any amount fixed by the Treasury Department—evidence of good faith and sincerity In disclaim- ing any intent to defraud. The Jus- tice Department would be consulted if any settlement is contemplated. Situation, as it is partially clarified, seems to be that if the Justice Depart- ment is satisfied that the 20th-Fox exec innocently transgressed in re- porting his income, and that no ev.n- sion was in mind, the cases will be sent back to the Treasury, which then will open nogotiations to fix the exact amount or, more likely, levy 'deficiency assessments which can be appealed to the U. S. Board ol Tnx Appeals and reviewed by the Fed- eral Courts. 2 TEABS FOB ARSON Galveston, Aug. 1. Joe Hackney, formerly manager of the Arp, (Texas,) motion picture theatre which burned last October with loss of $40,000, given two years in prison on arson charee. He pleaded guilty in district court at TVler.