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12 TARIETT'S' lONnON OFFICII • 6t. Martin'* FUce, TraralKsr Hqiiar* INTERNATIONAL Calil« AddKMi TARIKIT, I«N1H>i( TvUphon« Temple bar S041-S042 Hungary's Legit Pix Uncertainty For '3940 Laid to Curbs on Jews Budapest, Aug, 15. With the new season approaching, Hungary's show biz, namely legit and film production, are practically at a standstill. And the. cause points towards anti-Jewish restrictions. Although season starts less than a month from now, and rehearsals should be well under way, it is still uncertain which of Budapest's pri- vately-owned theatres will open in the fall, and under what manage- ment, since stage clause of the anti- Semitic law stipulates that executive managers of all theatres must be members of the Actors' Chamber. Latter also passes on acting licenses for legit theatres. Final decision rests with the mayor of Budapest. All of Budapest's important pri- vately-owned legit theatres applied for licenses under same owners as last year, although one or two found new figureheads to conform to stipu- lation of the law. Chamber delayed decision until last week, thus keep- ing hundreds of actors, etc., in un- certainty throughout the summer, since no contracts could be made by managements that did not know whether they would receive their licenses or not. Now, Actors' Cham- ber, approving all others, advised against granting a license to Paul Brody, executive manager of Mag- yar and Andrassy theatres, although Brody is a member of the Chamber and has been manager of the latter theatres for years, playing for many successful seasons. Great resentment is felt against Ferenc Kiss, president of the Cham- ber, who, instead of working for ac- tors' interests, has taken this step, against Brody, thus forcing many actors out of work. Mayor, however, still must give his decision on the manager. Discuss Provincial Units Other important decision, now imder discussion between Ministry of Education and Actors' Chamber, is re future of provincial stages. ■ These, partly subsidized by state and municipal means, have been strug- gling for years. Latest plan is to scrap municipal companies and sup- port a few touring companies in- —steadrThis-system;-authorltiesclaimr would make for a higher standard of production, but, on the other hand, would increase actor unemployment Confidence shaken by anti-Semitic laws and interference of the Film Chamber are factors in the film pro duction lull. Although a government order recently issued decrees that 20% of all programs in the coming year must consist of features made or failing this, dubbed in Hungary, and 30% of shorts and educationals shown must be home-made, there are only two or three new Hun garian-made features awaiting fall release.' ■ There are a similar num- ber awaiting immediate production, as against 25 or 30 made in Hun- gary during the spring and summer months in recent years. Complete uncertainty paralyzes ac' tivity of distributors. Ruling of the anti-Semitic bill, which stipulates that executives of distributing firms must be members of the Film Cham ber—admission to which has been almost exclusively limited to non Jews—has not been enforced so far since detailed instructions for the execution of the law have not yet been issued by the government. Re- cently, however, the Film Chamber demanded that every distributing firm should nominate a Film Cham- bsr member as its executive head within 48 hours or discontinue its ac- . / fivities. Firms would als'o be liable to criminal charges if defaulting. Par in Chamber None of the local branches of American companies, except Para- mount, being represented by I'ilm Chamber members, they have turned for instructions to American head- quarters. If no qualified executives answer to the Film Chamber's re- quirements and at the same time en- joying the confidence of the Amer- ican firms, it's possible that several Ameripan companies may walk out of Hungary. It seems likely, however, that some sort of last-moment com- promise will be reached. Withdrawal of American product would be ca- lastrophal for exhibitors and for the entire trade, particularly at- a mo- ment when home production has practically stopped, and when grad- ual release of frozen American as- sets promises to give a new impetus to American imports. ACTS ON FRAUD French Gov't Makes Closer B. O. Cbecit in Tax, Royally Vigil Paris, Aug. 19. Closer governmental supervision of box-office returns for taxation and royalty purposes has been instituted by decree. Henceforth the govern- ment will keep a strict tab on exhib- itors by obliging them to make pe- riodical statements. Vrolators are liable to fines ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 francs (current rate of ex- change of the franc is 2.65c). This, it's hoped, will end the in- creasing practice of some exhibitors, who issue false financial statements in order to pay less taxes to the gov- ernment and smaller commissions to the producers. In the past there was no way of checking the total number of tickets issued, since there was no control at the source. Printing shops will now require special permission from the government to print tickets. Film on the Vatican Rome, Aug. 19. March of Time, after months of delicate negotiations, has Anally been granted permission by Pope Pius XII to film the Vatican, and is in the midst of a M. of T. on the Papal terri- tory. Film will include not only governmental phases of the Vat- ican, from its own postoflice, customs house, defense force, etc., but will also Illustrate the various ceremonies of the Cath- olic church. Griffiths' WB Future In Eng. Up in the Air; Max Milder's CM. Post NEW PIC CO. BD. London, Aug. 21. The Green brothers, couple of locals who recently disposed of Wal- ter's cigarets to Imperial Tobacco Co. for $2,000,000, are entering film pro- duction. Teddy Carr, joint manag- ing director of United Artists, is in constant huddle with the Greens, with company to include N. £. Neville and Syd Harrison, financiers, on the directorate. Leslie Howard will also be on the t>oard as pro- ducer-actor. Company is to make three pictures yearly for UA release. The Greens also own the freehold of the London Casino, which they re- cently purchased" from the bankers. Mex Unions Plan Reprisal ¥s^ UJLJDiscriniinaliojii' Mexico City, Aug. 29. Stiff retaliation is planned by Mexican theatrical unions against American vaude - revue players. Unions are burned by what they con- sider unfair discrimination . against Mexican entertainers in the southern U. S., particularly Los Angeles. Unions, it is understood, are pre- paring to ask the government to greatly limit the admittance of American players to Mexico and re- strict their work in this country. London, Aug. 29. Although consolidation of distribu- tion by First National and Warners in England was officially approved at a joint board meeting of the two companies here last week, David Griffiths, managing director of FN, refused to accept the post of general sales manager in the new setup un- der Max Milder, who was appointed managing director. Griffiths, how- ever, remains a director of the new organization known' as Warner Bros., Ltd. Previously, FN and WB virtually' divided the product Warners shipped to Great Britain. Griffiths, who has been head of the Kinematograph- Renters Society here for 'a number of years, said he had no immediate future plans. He had been active in the financial affairs of the company over here during the earlier days of distribution. Because of this active participation, Griffiths' associates were surprised that he was not given the top spot in the. new setup. Preferred Canadians, Nippon Girls Punished Osaka, Japan, Aug. 12. Fifteen members of the Takara- zuka girls opera troupe have been permanently suspended from the Japanese stage because, according to reports, they recently declined an invitation to speak before an anti- British rally in the town of Takara- zuka, preferring instead to dance with members of the visiting Cana- dian basketball team in Kyoto. Officials of the Takarazuka school sponsoring'the unit, were threatened with a cancellation of the permit allowing other members of the troupe to conduct a month's tour in North China to entertain Japanese troops, unless they took measures to pimish the guilty 15. BUYING POOL LOOKS COLD No official word regarding the ap- pointment of a man to the/ post of general sales manager for the new Warner Bros, distributing company in England has been received by the home office in New 'York. Only in- formation was the original cable from Harry M. Warner, In which Max Milder was mentioned as the head of the new corporation under the combined alignment. Warner is due back in New 'York on Labor Day, according to latest in- formation. —^WB-PN~ sales-merger-has-resulted- in dismissal of practically the latter's entire staff. Dave Dobey, general sales manager, and Jock Hutchison, circuit sales head, among those to go. London, Aug. 29. John Maxwell's scheme for a line- up of 1,000 indie theatres in a buying pool, for which he would put up the financing, has had only a lukewarm reception from the exhibs, many of whom remember the sticky end of what was once known as the Dixey Scheme, later the short-lived British Independent Exhibitors Distribution Co. Associated British chief's pro- posals are regarded as just another variant on the cooperative booking idea, which has never reached first base in the U. K. due to determined resistance from the distributors. Only difference appears to be that Max- well woud find the bankroll and the indies would not be called on to paHicipate in any franchise arrange- ment. Proposal was submitted at general council of Cinematograph Exhibitors Ass'n, but no enthusiasm was shown there, and item was merely referred back for discussion at the next ses- sion, which won't be until the middle of September anyway. Exhibs are wary of the plan, realizing that Max- well didn't propose it merely for the good of his health. NEW 'CRAZY' SHOW CLICKS IN TRYOUT 5 Provincial Dates For 'Forest* Prior to London I.ondon, Aug. 29. Five provincial dates have been set for -Henry Sherek's production of 'Petrified Forest,' which reaches the West End this winter. The Robert E. Sherwood play, which had a run on Broadway several years ago and subsequently was filmed by Warners, opens in Edinburgh Jan. 29 and fol- lows with bookings in Glasgow, Newcastle, Liverpool and Manches- ter. Owen Nares plays the Howard role, with Jessica Tandy in the part created by Peggy Conklin. Show is being held up due to Nares' commit- ment to H. M. Tennent for the tour- ing 'Robert's Wife,' which quits the end of the year. London, Aug. 29. The new Palladium 'Crazy' show, 'The Little Dog Laughed,' played be- fore a packed house in its opening tryout, at the Hippodrome, in su- burban Brighton, last night (Mon- day). House had been sold out for the opener for two weeks. Show debuts a run at the Palladium Sept. II. The Gertrude Hoffman Girls, Con- dos Bros., Barr and Estes and Willie West and McGinty scored, the latter particularly outstanding. Show is overlong, but is being readjusted. Jap 'Dead End' Tokyo, Aug. 12, •■" The Shimbashi Embujo, one of Tokyo's leading legit theatres, is of- fering the Japanese version of 'Dead End,' translated from the United Artists picture which made a big hit on local screens recently. It features the special summer per- formance of the Shinkyo Gekidan, a modern school theatre. DENIS IN CALCUTTA Calcutta, Aug. 12. Armand Denis and his wife, Leila Roosevelt, who started on a film making trek from New York last May, are here, having just returned from Burma and China where their expedition covered 3,500 miles. They filmed about 10,000 feet, consisting mainly of tribal pictures. Their last pic was 'Dark Rapture.' Jeanson, Gallic Playwright, Jailed for Gov't Censure Paris, Aug. 19. Henry Jeanson, dramatist, many of whose works have been screened, has been sentenced to. 18 months in prison and fined 5,000 francs (about $135). He was charged with violating the law dealing with the publication of articles 'having for their aim reduc- ing French authority on part of the territory over which this authority is exercised.' In an article Jeanson censured French colonial methods, charging they were no better than those for merly employed by Germany. The severity of the sentence is due to the fact that the article was freely cir culated in the colonics and because of his non-appearance in court. 'Dick' a London Hit London, Aug. 29, Ben Travers' new frrce, 'Spotted Dick,' is a hit, following Its open- ing at the Strand here V/edncsday night (23). Featured are Robertson Hare, Al- fred Drayton and Joyce Barbour, HLMS TO WELD BRIT. EMPIRE CLOSER Montreal, Aug. 29. With appointments to be made from the Dominion cabinet, the civil service and the Canadian public, the National Film Board, provided for in legislation passed at the recent ses- sion of Parliament, will be set up in. the next few weeks. It will function as part of a campaign for education and greater understanding between the British Empire dominions. Duties of the board will be to supervise preparation and distribu- tion of 'documentary films,' mainly educational, for use throughout Can- ada and the Empire. This will be co- ordinated with similar activities throughout the other British domin- ionsl . Plans for the board were worked out chiefly by John Gricrson, secretary of the Imperial Relations Trust, now In Australia working on similar plans there. Films prepared under the board's supervision will be designed to show modes of life and work in various sections of Canada, and will be dis- tributed on a Dominion-wide basis in a plan to show how the other fellow lives. These Alms will be sent to Great Britain and the Dominions in exchange for similar films from thc.<;e latter. In England special interest in things Canadian has been greatly stimulated by the royal visit this summer. MEX PRODUCERS PUSH TAX ON FOREIGN FILMS A group of 1,000 theatres which he could hold in the hollow of his hand would be a nice business spec for any producer, but the indies, aren't so hot on any setup which would virtually bind them to take product unseen. Maxwell, putting up his idea to a CEA delegation, quite clearly offered all his resources, of production as well as financing. Some of the exhibs feel there may, accordingly, be more behind it than behind previous efforts to 'start a 'First National' on this side, but there still seems to be no inclination to start right in and explore the chances.' General im- pression is that the scheme is still- born. Mexico City, Aug. 29. New tax on American and other foreign pix is in the offing. This levy, a nick on every alien film iex- hibited in Mexico, is desired by some Mexican producers who figure that this will be a keen way to pro- vide more funds for official aid for the home industry. , Sponsors of the tax say there's ^ pTenfy" juslificafi6n~f(5f~lhe'" itinpostr" that a like levy is in effect in Eng- land, France, Gcri^any and Japan. France Honors Lumiere, Inventor of the Cinema Paris, Aug. 20. Actors, critics, dramatists and others connected with the French cinema and legit came in for dec- orations during the past week. The French government, which handed them out by the carload during the past few days, paid Louis Lumiere, French inventor of the cinema, one of its highest honoi^s by giving him the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor. Playwright Tristan Bernard was made Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor; Charles Mere, president of the Society of Dramatic Authors, and Pierre Brisson, drama critic of Figaro, Paris daily, were both raised to the rank of Commander. French stage and screen actors Pierre Blanchard, Gaby Morlay, Valentine Tessier and Mary. Mar- quet were made Chevaliers. N.S. Wales Deficit May Sink Gov't Prod. Backing Reports reaching New York from New South Wales, Australia, that the government there faces a deficit that may reach as high as $10,000,000 on the 1938-39. budget, suggest that the proposed governmental plan to finance local film production has gone a-glimmering, or at least won't be sufficiently feasible at this time to be made applicable. Government is reported recently to have allocated $600,000 for local pro- duction. Flo George's 'Widow' Hollywood, Aug. 29. Florence George goes to. London next month to take the femme lead in revival of 'The Merry Widow,' which Carl Brisson will produce at the Savoy and in which he'll also play a to'p role. i\ctress is under contract to Metro and recently returned from honey- moon in Europe with Everett Cros- by. O'Neill, Sherwood Plays . . For Mussolini Theatre Rome, Aug. 19. Eugene O'NeH and Robert Sher- wood will represent the U. S. when the 1939-40 season of Mussolini's Theatre of Art gets underwa:{/fiSre" in October. Included among the offerings are O'Neill's 'Anna Chris- tie' and 'Beyond the Horizon,' along with Sherwood's 'Petrified Forest.' Somerset Maugham's 'Rain' is also slated. Lococo Back to S. A. Clemente Lococo, Buenos Aires theatre owner and Spanish film producer, sailed for home Saturday (2G)-arfter two months in New York and Hollywood. Lococo closed a dis- tribution, deal for two of his pro- ductibnst'wi'ih'Guferre'ro & Kunzler to be distributed in the U. S. Guy P. Morgan, manager for United Artisl&^in the Argentine, sailed with Lococo." BOMBAY 'NAZI SPY' BIG Bombay, Aug. 12. 'Nazi Spy' (WB) closed here after three strong weeks, 'Captain Fury' (UA) after the second week. 'Jesse James' (20th), in its second week, opened smash, following ex- tensive bally.