Variety (Aug 1939)

12 TABIETT'S* LONDON OFFICE S St. Martin's rlHt'r, Trufiiliinr Squar* INTERNATIONAL Calile AMrent TARIETT, LONDON Trifiihoiw. Temple Bar Columbia and RKO Plan More Ambitious British Production London, Aug. 14. Impetus to local production is seen in announcements from Ameri- can majors of enhanced plans for picture-making here in fulfilment of their quota duties. Harry Cohn, during a quick flip from Paris, made pii^Jitf plans by Columbia to do eight 'AT films here next year as against four in the current session. Irving Ashcr, who made the grade with 'Clouds Over Europe' and 'Spy in Black,' is Columbia's whiteheaded boy these days, and gets support for a far more ambitious schedule, which will entail shipping of name; like Gary Grant and Jean Arthur to I^enham to give definite U. S. flavor to the forthcoming product. Simultaneously, local chief for RKO, told his sales force the company was going to town on a policy of three top grade British pix annually,, which they will make themselves. William Sis- trom, who returned for conferences with George Schaefer following completion of 'Saint in London' and 'Meet Maxwell Archer' in local stu- dios, is due back on this side and will top the production unit han- dling the program. Meantime, records of product reg- istered with the Board of Trade un- der the quota laws show 36 British features in the first four months of the new act's second stanza, com- paring with 33 last period. Con- sidering that distrib quota is upped. from 15 to 20%, that's not such a terrific increase, though indications show the second part of the produc- tion year may see activity hypoed to greater effect Ten of the pictures registered rate only as exhib quota, with no distrib ticket awarded, meaning they are low-budget efforts that don't satisfy the minimum-cost re- quirements of the act. Six produc- tions, at the same time, drew double credits and five triple certificates, meaning there's plenty coin being put into some of the films. Roman Stadium Opens As Entertainment Spot Rome, Aug. 14. Offering nearly everything, from a television theatre to basketball courts, the old Circus Maximus, after .1 lapse of several centuries, is again drawing entertainment seekers. The stamping ground of Roman emper- ors, a former stadium, it has been reopened and rembnickered Villag- gio Balneare (Bathing Village) under the auspices of Mussolini. Done up in ultra modern, rather wispy decor, it has several swim- ming pools, a sandy beach, tennis Ralph Hanbury, courts, basketball, roUerskating rink, ■ a large cinema, a restaurant with a 'capacity.of 1,000, and large outdoor platform for dancing. Television shows go on twice nightly. Indicative of the present Italian vogue for German films, a Ufa pro- duction, 'Quattro Ragazze Coragiose' ("Four Courageous Girls'), opened the filmery. A variety show is of- fered along with the picture. See Italian Gov t In Otficial Move On U.S. Pic Pact London Takes a Bow London, Aug. 14. According to 'London Statis- tics, 1036-38,' published by the London County Council, London, is the greatest city in the world. The 1937 figures give the Eng- lish metropolis' population as 8,655,000 and an acreage of 693 square miles. New York is the second great- est city, with 299 square miles and less than 7;000,000 people. N. Y. claims 7,500,000 pop., and a suburban population nearer 12,000,000. WB, FN MERGE ENGUSH SALES MEXICO-NAZI PIX SWAP DEAL Mexico City, Aug. 22. Deal with Germany for the swap- ping of oil and petrol by-products for picture apparatus, from labora- tory and sound equipment to cam- eras and negative color film, is being urged upon the Mexican govern- ment by the National Cinemato- graphic Workers' Federation. Gov- ernment is said to favor the propo- sition From information reaching for- eign officials of major U. S. distribu- tors, it's expected that Paolucci dc Calboli, president of the Italian Gov- ernment's film bureau, Ente Nazion- ale Industrie Cinematographiche (ENIC), may send an emissary to the U. S. shortly to start negotia- tions for a resumption of film rela- tions between Italy and U. S. major film companies. Of late, unofficial feelers have been sent out, osten- sibly by the Italian Government, on the reaction of Yank firm to resum- ing distribution in Italy. Of films being offered Italian ex- hibitors by ENIC, only about 20 American pictures are still being distributed. None oi the U. S. re- leases is from the 1938-39 lineups, while most are from independent distributors, handled through native exchanges, or those which had been contracted for prior to withdrawal of four of the eight major American distributors. Forty new Italian productions will be distributed this coming season in the U. S. by Esperia Film Distribu- ting Co. of New York through a deal concluded by Dr. Francesco 1 Macaluso, its general manager, who The selling organizations of First National and Warner Bros, which formerly handled sales separately in England, have been combined under the banner of Warner' Bros., Ltd, according to word received in N. Y. ■from H. M. Warner, presently in London. Consolidation of First Na- tional and WB into a single sales or- g.Vnization in England, as prevails in most countries, had been under cohsideratipn for some time. Max Miider, formerly managing director of sales in England, will be in complete charge of Consolidated distribution. Status of Robert Schless, European managing director for all Europe, is unchanged. Al- though his headquarters are in Paris, Schless is spending a great deal of time in London. Consolidation primarily was a matter of economy for WB, it was reported in N. Y. Possibility of war in Europe, making conservation of man power a requisite in any sales otganization, also was mentioned as a factor in the combo. Capt Auten and French Pathe Sue, Countersue Capt. Harold Auten, on Aug. 29, will ask the N. Y. supreme court for permission to examine the iPathe Cinema before trial, through its president, Bernard Natan, its v.p.; Emil Natan, Marcel Hellman, sales representative, and O. Jacqucmin, chief of the Commerce service. Auten is being sued for approxi- mately $350,000 damages by Maurice Mauger and Marcel Coutant, receiv- ers and trustees of Pathe Cinema, of France, claiming breach of contract in which the defendant was tht dis- tributor of Pathe's films in the U. S. The plaintiffs also seek nn Injunc- tion to prevent further distribution and an accounting. Auten has a counter-suit for $17,- 500, claiming that amount is due him as a 10% commission for having secured all RKO's pictures in the 1933-34 season for Pathe to distrib- ute in France. Pathe paid $175,000 for the pictures. Application will be • made by Harold Sherman, o£ Fitelson & May- ers, attorneys for Pathe, within a week for an examination of Auten. Federation has also aided J. Dalhaus, local rep of German supply houses and producers, to take to Germany two made-in-Mexico films, 'Way Down on the Rancho Grande' and 'La Zandunga,' the lat- ter Lupe Velez's' first locally pro- duced vehicle, to swan for German films. Reported that this is the start of a swapping of Mexican and Ger- man pix. W. 1 arrived in New York from Rome pic last week. AL FRESCO CAFES HIT ROME PICTURE B.0/S Rome, Aug. 12 The wailing.by cinema operators' ; here is plentiful these days, but now nine features, plus five documentary U. S. Lone Major Nation Not Entered as Venice Fete Gets Under Way Rome, Aug. 12. With the U. S. the sole major film- producing country absent from com- petition, the Seventh Film Biennial at Venice got off to a more auspici- ous start than had been expected earlier. Opened Tuesday (8) and runs until Aug. 13. Even England and France have entries. At first it was thought latter pair would not enter. Alleged discrimination last year, which they think would have been aggravated this year because of their exit from Italian distribu- tion last Jan. 1, is believed to be the cause behind U. S. companies' fail- ure to compete. Alex Korda's 'Four Feathers' is the only British production aa nounccd on the program as yet, more are expected. France is show- ing 'End of the Day,' 'Behind the Wall' and 'Dawn.'. Italy will have five major pictures while Germany, too, will have that many. Sweden has three entries while Japan has This Is regarded as a Strang para- ••■s "Ot tor the usual reason. The , productions. « . ^. dox in U. s! trade circles in view of i I ^^"''^ '"'^ Mexico's leftist regime. RKO'S FOREIGN SALES DRIVE MEETINGS ON tew months for the decline has been the lack of American films—caused by Government monopoly restric- tions effective last Jan. 1, thus prac- tically forcing Yankee major com- panies to move out—but another factor, besides, the heat, has been the open air cafes, film, 'The Construction of a Nation.' Hungary, Roumania, Belgium, India, Spain and Switzerland also have entries. Distributors in N. Y. admit that they have grown weary of the 'slip- shod' treatment handed American RKO Radio's new 52-weck forei.sn sales contest got under way last Fri- day (18), with the opening of the For popular-priced enterUinment product at Venice in recent years. under the stars there, is,.for exam- ple, the Casino Delia Rosa with a seating capacity of nearly 1,000, first Latin^American sales conven- which offers a complete variety show lion in Rio de Janeiro. Phil Rcis- for a 15c. cover with drinks scaled man, foreign sales head, opened the ' accordingly. Then, too, there are Brazil meeting. Second S. A. meeting takes place In Buenos Aires Aug. 31. The Aus- tralasian convention will be held in Sydney Aug. 22, under Ralph R. Doyle. the usual sidewalk cafes, sans show. Sherek's 'Petrified' London, Aus. 11. In a list of plays recently an- Counterfeit' NG; 'Sitting' Clicks in London Bows But if they had still been distribu- ting in Italy, they would have had pictures entered again this year, Glass Back to France London. Aug. 22. Opening at the Duke of York's last Tuesday night (15), 'Counterfeit,' nounced for production by Henry;comedy meller, was well received, Sherek, the manager-agent says the though it showed itself to be unlikely only one he has definitely set to pre- ' "S a stayer. sent here is The Petrified Forest.' 1 On Thursday night (17), 'Sitting He denies 'Behold the Bride' is a . Pretty' opened at the Prince's. It's flop, since it showed an appreciable! a bright musical, was splendidly re profit. 'ceived, and indicates staying power. Max Glass, head of Arcadia FilmSi Ltd., of France, and producer of the film, 'Entente Cordiale,' sailed for home Saturday (19) without com- pleting a distribution, deal for that picture in the U. S. Offers received for remake rights will be mulled and decided in France. Glass made a study of production in Hollywood and discussed propo- sitions to refilm it with several pto- ducers. Another Arcadia production, 'The Imperial Tragedy,* opens a run at the 55lh St. Playhouse, N. Y., in th? fall. '38-39 French Legit Season Hit Hard By Pictures, Radio and High Taxes Exhibs MuD Ban On Brit. Distribs In Televish Tiif London, Aug. 14. British exhibs are considering a boycott of any distrib who releases film for television. Films, are still getting through to the British Broadcasting Corp. in spite of a ban against BBC by the Kinematograph Renters Society. That body includes all major distribs, excepting Asso- ciated British, but BBC can still pick up cheap material from small indies; in fact, it's said to have taken several horse operas from one such concern. It also gets some of the foreign language epics that don't register any theatre sales outside the West End. Cinematograph Exhibitors Assn. is already in contact with KRS and the News Reel Assn. as regards sup- plying of topicals to the vision sender, and two former bodies are striving to persuade the newsreel members to hold out on BBC, a difficult matter because Gaumont- British and Movietone are both coming across with regular issues and are obviously keen to be friends with BBC on account of G-B's interest in television through its Baird associate. Gaumont par- ticularly needs all the co-operation and support the BBC can give in de- veloping its theatre televisrion plans. Also, a great deal of shortpicturc footage goes on the air, and here again much comes from G-B, which releases the old black and white Disneys it handled in the early days. It's not this end of the situa- tion that bothers the exhibs so greatly, except where the translux type of theatres are concerned, but they are definitely going to bat to git the features barred. DURANT CONTINUES BIG AT THE LONDON CASINO London, Aug. 22. Jack Diiranfs success in the Eng- lish niteries and vaude house con- tinues here. The American dancer- comedian opened at the London Ca- sino last Tuesday night (15), and was again a smash. Felovis, too, went over excellently. The Casino is running two .separate shows nightly, at dinner and mid- night, with both having magnificent productions. ' JAMAICA BANS 'THIS MAN' Latest screen banning by Jamaica, B. W. I... has hit Paramount's 'This Man Is News.' Per custom, no reason is given for the ban. Odd part is that 'This Man' Is a British-made production, with virtu- ally an all-English cast. Jamaica is a British possession. Paris, Aug. 22. The cinema, radio, taxation and high cost of living joined forces dur- ing the past 12 months to furnish se- vere competition to the French thea- tre, being primarily responsible for one of the most mediocre legit sea- sons here in years. The season brought to light no new talent, produced no outstanding hit.<:, only a few more-than-ordinary run.s and failed to set any box-office rec- ords. Young talent, which formerly flocked to the footlights, was atlr.icl- ed to the Kleigs instead because of larger salaries, the promise of greater popularity and because the trail to Hollywood seemed eased through local pix. The success of Charles Boyer and Danielle Darrieux in the film capital created the lat'^cr prece- dent. Legit's doldrums, too, forced many performers to turn to radio work. The French cinema definitely eclipsed the local theatre during the year. The industry, now in one of il.s most productive periods, attracted larger audiences, the theatre conse- quently being the greatest sufferer. New film showcases continued to open all over the capital, whereas many established theatres failed to reopen. Others remained closed dur- ing the major part of the season. Improved radio programs, too, wa.s another consideration, serving to keep prospective theatre audiences !it home. Taxes Another Irritant Increased taxation was a constant point of irritation between lhcalric:il producers and the government, and was responsible for staying the open- ing of many shows. With tops never going over $1.80, and with the gov- ernment collecting about 27% in taxes, producers were often hesitant in investing in a new play. The in- crease in the cost of living made itself felt and kept away many peo- ple, from all forms of paid entertain- ment, with legit, charging bigger ad- missions, necessarily the worst suf- ferer. Less than half a dozen plays en- joyed more-than-average rim.s. Mar- cel Achard's 'Le Corsaire,' at the Athenee, and Claude-Andre Pugefs 'Les Jours Heureux' (Happy Days'), at the Michel, ran into their second season. The latter is a comedy on the Booth Tarkington order, with the entire cast composed of youths be- tween 16 and 21. Giiltry Play Successful Sacha Guitry's 'Le.Monde est Fou' ('The World Is Crazy'), at the Made- leine, starring himself, had a good run for a Guitry play, which has a select class audience. It ran about three months. Maurice Diamant Berger's 'Baignoire B', ('Box B'), at the Marigny, was another commer- cial success, running an entire season. Patterned along the lines of the 'Tri;<l of Mary Dugan,' it offers the audi- ence some excitement, with the crime committed inside the theatre. The Palais Royal, which special- izes in risque farces, continued to do well. 'La Ppule et le Chasseur' ('The Chicken and the Hunter') recently topped its 100th performance. The Chatelet continued to special- ize in musical extravaganzas under Maurice Lehmann's direction, and was the nearest approach to New York's old Hippodrome. . Edward Stirling and his Engli.«h repertory company appeared for their 10th consecutive season with continued success before small, select English-speaking audiences. The Co- medie Francaise and Odeon did well playi-.\-; the classics of Racine and Shakespeare. NIPPON'S NO DICE ON MEXICO PICTURE TRY Mexico City, Aug. 22. Japan is trying to edge in on the Mexican pix biz. This wedge has started with sample showings o^ Nippon pictures with foreign stories, but Japanese dialog, at the Japanese legation for Mexican exhibitors. Thus far no dice, exhibitors consid- ering Americans and other Occi- dentals the best bets. Of all pictures exhibited in Mexico 96% come from the U. S. French films are next