Variety (Nov 1939)

12 TARIECT'S' LONDON OFFICB • 8t. Martin's Flare, TntfalKHr Hajuar* INTERNATIONAL Cable AMr««ii: TARffilT, T,ONI>0!f TclephoM Xcmpla Bar S041-1KM2 War Theme Pictures Prove Duds On Test Runs in Aussie Territory Sydney, Oct. 31. Heissiies of v/ar pictures similar 1o 20th-Fox's 'Cavalcade' have proved a complete boxofflce frost in this sector in several tryouts. That the public here yearns for laughs has been acknowledged by theatre oper- jitors, who foresee keen demand for such type of production. Australian business is maintainin; a good level with Hollywood prod- \ict. Shutdown of British studios means widening revenue possibilities in this territory for American prcf- ducers. Prospective scarcity of product due 1o British inactivity would eliminate two factors that have been obstacles 1o American distribution here. They are the right granted to New South Wales exhibs to reject 25% of Amer- ican product and the proviso that calls for the local exhibition of at least 15% British Alms. Tanks Nix Reissaes No war reissues are going to bel- ligerent, countries, a majority of ma- jor company foreign departments said in New York this week. They are not forcing any war-theme pro- ductions in such territories, particu- larly because of censorial difficulties. Censors in belligerent countries, and even in neutral nations, are jumping on anything showing horrors of war. Opinion of foreign department ex- ecutives in- N. Y. Is that light^theme pictures will prove best business- getters in belligerent nations. They believe musicals and comedies stand the best chance of clicking in such territories, with many companies planning distribution accordingly, LONDON EASES LEGIT CURFEW London, Oct. 31. Twenty West End legit theatres are now permitted to stay open un til 11:15 p.m. Legit operators have been cam- paigning for the ease in curfew re strictions and for an okay on Sunday peformances. Original curfew had been 6 p.m. Midway '40 Plans .Continued from page 1. tions without salary early in the fall, replacing Grover Wl.alen, is de- sc-ibed as willing to give any new proposition a chance if it seems likely to succeed. Since Gibson has been actively in charge at the fair, he's spent hours daily seeking the best policy for the amusement area. He has conferred with veteran out- door showmen, with concession- nalres and others and already has built better relationship with the midway operators as a result. The midway will be more con- densed and definitely zoned. The present site of Sun Valley and where the Sun Worshippers show operated probably will be the end of the re- vised Great White Way. This will necessitate moving the Parachute Jump and several other .shows nearer the center of things and al- ready means are being worked out to accomplish this. Gibson's real interest, as chairman of the finance committee which floated the $24,000,000 bond issue, is the desire to make these liens valu- able. Argentine Eyes Mex Biz Mexico City, Oct. 31. Argentine pic producers continue to press for the Mexican market. Success of pix they sent here a year or so ago has prompted them to go after Mexican biz. Rio de Janiero distributors have sent 36 features here. Exhibitors, have organized the na- tional union of cinematographic im- presarios, object of which is mutual protection and benefit Ernesto E. Trujillo Gurria, is prez.; Pedro F. de Leon, sec, and Edrulfo Escandon, ti'easurer. 'Iron Mask* Sets Mex Record 'Man in Iron Mask' (UA) hung up a new high b.o. record for the swank Cine Teatro Alameda with $10,250 for a week. 'Algiers'. (LfA) topped $8,000 in a week last year at the same stand. It is the runnerup. PIX WANT MORE NEUTRAL B.O. INCOME U.S. Firms in Saving, Make Prints in England Depreciation in the value of the British pound and threat of rental coin in Great Britain being frozen there in large quantites are prompt- ing many U. S. major companies to increase the amount of film print- ing done in England. They are turn- ing out prints destined for distribu- tion in nearby foreign countries in- clcad of doing the printing in these countries or in the U. S. Step is another economy move for American distr.ibs and r case of tak- ing advanta.f;e of the British cur- rency situation. By tUi'ning out copies' in London, U. S. majors put to use British money rather than Ehip this portion to N. Y'. at a loss of 17-2C% when the sterling is ex- changed into American currency. French M.P. Corp.'s Plan Of Reorganization OK'd Federal Judge William Bondy in N. Y. has approved f ■ plan of reor- ganization of the French Motion Pic- ture Corp., which filed a petition in bankruptcy Feb. 18, 1938. It will pay creditors 15% on claims, and lax and wage claims In full. Albert Lieberman of Philadelphia on Oct. 4 deposited $5,000 in the Corn Exchange Bank of N. Y., for the ful- fillment of the plan. Allowed claims totaled $14,466, which $10,034 approved the plan. 'Frisco Fair Folds Too San Francisco, Oct. 31. An estimated 12,500,000 visited the Golden Gale International Exposi- tion which shut down Sunday (29) after a 254-day run. Although this figure is approximately 6,000,000 less than anticipated by the conservatives before Treasure Island was opened Feb. 18, it is considerably better than anticipated following terrific letdown which set in after the first two weeks of operation. ! Perfect weather during the final week of the Fair attracted thousands who made the trip to the Island for a last look. Biggest weekday was last Wednesday (25), when nearly 112,000 participated in Women's Day at the G.G.I.E. The three big shows on the Island from Ihe standpoint of the number of paid admissions were 'Cavalcade of the Golden West,' 'Folies Bergere' and the Fine Arts Palace, which drew in the neighborhood of 5,000,000 people up to Thursday of last week. Admissions at that time were Arts Palace, 1,503,463; 'Caval- cade,' 1,385,848, and the California Auditorium, where 'Folies Bergere' (two editions), 'Ziegfeld Follies' and Eddie Cantor held forth, 1,277,526. Final week, ending Oct. 27, 'Caval- cade' took in $64,900, a new high. Extra shows had to be given every day in order to take care of the crowds. . During the same stretch •Folies Bergere' did $34,070, the big- gest seven-day run for the Fischer show. Opening week had an extra performance, on the night of the show's preem, which shot the take over $35,000. General manager Charles H. Sti'ub, who 'revitalized' the Fair, when things were at their darkest. Is ex- pected to again take over manage- ment of the expo, when and if it re- opens next year, and the fact that it will try a short run from May 15 to Sept. 15 during 1940 seems to be a foregone conclusion. However, some of tho.<;e pledging $1,650,000 to keep it going have strings tied to the new money and there undoubtedly will be a re-shuftling of personnel before the moneybags are opened. Major companies are putting the heat on their foreign managers in neutral countries urging them to exert added pressure for more busi- ness. The European war is cited as the reason why American film companies need additional revenue from neutral sources. Managers are advised to secure more playdates and higher rentals wherever feasible. How this miracle of added busi- ness is to be achieved isn't indi- cated. Republic Extends Sales Force in Latin America Republic Pictures is extending its Ijatin-Amerlcan marketing force with the appointment of Paul M. Wir as divisional sales manager for Central America. He'll make his headquarters at Colon, Panama, Harry Davis, former manager in Panama, leaves ther2 today (Wednes- day) to open a new office in Santia- go, Chile, and another in Valparaiso. Wir, a resident of Panama for 12 years, last represented United Art- ists in that territory. Joe Hummel to Make Latin America Suney For WB Theatre ConsL Joe S. Hummel, Warner Bros, for- eign chief, who sails Friday (3) from New York on tour of Latin American countries, will survey conditions looking towards the po.ssible con- struction of theatres in certain South- American countries. WB has no theatre operations presently in Latin America. This will make the second Christ- mas Hummel has spent away from N. Y. in the last three years. He was in the Orient near the scene of hos- tilities between the Japanese and Chinese two years ago. Reports that Metro might build aditionally in Argentina, where busi- ness prospects seem brightest of all South American countries, were de- nied last week by Arthur M. Loew, Metro's foreign chief. Denial was made in connection with the depar- ture of Sam N. Burger, homeofTice rep of Metro's foreign department, last Saturday (28) for South America who, it was said, would study the- atre building there. Lunts to S. A. ? ^Continued from pace 1_ possibly break even. Estimated that it would cost $60,000 to $75,000 to ready the productions and company and to transport them to South America and return, without Includ- ing running expenses during the S, A. engagements. Believed thai the theatres in Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo, Rosario, etc., are probably loo small to bring grosses of more than around $20,000 a week, which might or might not pay the expenses of such a trip. However, it's believed that the Lunts and others in the company might make some sort of salary conces- sion because of the international goodwill angle. Tentative plan calls for the troupe to take 'Reunion in Vienna,' 'Eliza- beth the Queen,' 'Taming of the Shrew.' 'The Sea Gull" and possibly 'The Guardsman,' all of which the Lunts have mentioned as doing in repertory. "Idea would be that the above shows could be played with sufficient pantomime for the Span- i.<;h and Portuguese-language audi- ences to get by .the language handi- cap. Because of the familiarity of the play, 'Shrew' is regarded as ideal from that viewpoint. Lunts have been reported as In- tending to do a new Robert E. Sher- wood play this season, but that is be- lip-ed uncertain. Stronr for U. S. PIx Wa.shington, Oct. 31. . Growing appeal of U. S. motion pictures for Argentine film-goers was reported to the Department of Com- merce Monday (30) by the Ameri- .cnn Trade Commissioner at Buenos Aires. Approximately two-thirds of all pix exhibited in the South American country during the first nine months of this year were American-pro- duced, the report stated. Of a total of 347 films exhibited during the pe- riod, 232 were American made. Origin of remaining 115 was as fol- lows: Argentine, 43; French, 37: British, 12; Italy, 7: Germany and Spain, 6 each, and Mexico. 3. One film was classified ks coming from 'all other countric;,' the trade com- missioner reported. SOVIET PIX IN U.S. DENTED BY NAZIPAa Sizeable drop in income derivpd from Soviet pictures in the H,. S., dating from the Soviet-German pact of August, is admitted by Amkino, Soviet state-owned distributing com- pany. Decrease has been principally in the nal»es." Fall in Amkino's gross hasn't re- sulted so much from the public's un- willingness to patronize the films, the distributing outfit maintnin.s, but from exhibitors' refusal to book the pictures. Losses in this country are said lo be partially compensated by tills in South America. Incrca.-ie there is due, Amkino declares, in lar;!c mea.s- ure to a lifting of restrictions on Soviet pictures. Delay of more than six weeks in receipt of a shipment of five pix from Moscow virtually paralyzed'Amkino until they arrived last week via Nor- way, instead of England and France, as usual. One of the arrivals is a combo flesh-puppet version of 'Pin- occhio' tagged 'Little Golden King.' It will be released at about the same lime as Walt Disney's 'Pinocchio* cartoon. Competish is unintention.nl, Amkino avers, as Russian pic was made several years ago. Radio Pain .Continued from p.iee I. Jitters Scare Off Yank Production in England Despite High Exchange The depressed state of the Brili.<:h pound works both ways, and riyht now American dollars sent lo Eng- land naturally convert into higher exchange. With this in mind, the idea of utilizing U. S. funds for film production in England—whether the I coin is frozen or not—still doesn't click with the American picture execs. The reasons are several. For one, the jittery aspects of any belligerent nature aren't conducive to most ef- ficient film production. And while it's true that the British authorities would be prone lo release English players from the service to partici- pate in .entertainment missions, there is al.so the factor that the pru- i duction facilities arc important. One can't say, 'All right, we abandon Elstrcc and Twickenham and start .'hooting around Belfast or in .some Welsh retreat.' It's not as simple as all that. K.S.W. MIXES NITE PONIES Sydney, Oct. 4, Government has decided to forego sanction of night trotting, and con- sequently betting, in this territory. Decision has been hailed by exhibs. The only major night blow lo ex- hibs currently is dog racing. London In War Time of DeKobra's U.S. Deals Maurice de Kobra, French auhor, 5s currently in New /ork working on a legit dramatization of one of his books. He may leave for Holly- wood to make a wrltiiii; deal. De Kobra is now working with Erwin Piscator on dramatization of 'Widow with the Pink Gloves,' which will be ready for legit presentation on Broadway. Piscator will direct London, Oct. 17. Empire, Shepherd's Bush, and Hippodrome, Manchester, two of Sloll's hou.ses that shuttered on out- break of hostilities, are reopening with vaudeville, with rest of circuit expected to resume same policy soon. Irving A.sher going to America re- portedly with two offers as picture producer, one from Metro and an- other from Columbia. Sez he'll re- turn to London as soon as things settle down. Grosvenor House expected to re- sume leg shows, interspersed with couple of vaudeville acts. Dave Rafer, of the Rafer picture house.s, is full-time cop for the dura- tion of war. With opera at Sadlers Wells and symphony concerts at Queen's Hall, London's musical season gradually opening. Lyric, Hammersmith, re- opening with a popular-priced bal- let season for four weeks. reconciled to the disadvantage. The difference, they say. lies essentially in the training and work habits. Regular radio and legit performers have by the exigencies of their re- spective backgrounds learned to analyze a role quickly and .see im- mediately the possibilities of charac- ter, situation or plot development. Film players as a rule rehearse a .short isolated scene for an hour or longer and then have numerous takes made of it to get it perfect. Names out of films who have clicked in a big way in radio, point out the agencies, are those who have come up the hard way through the stage. They cite as a couple cases in point, and from two dirterent classifications, Edward G. Robinson (drama), and Frank Morgan (com- edy). Rated by agency men as the quickest and most effective line learner for radio from the Holly- wood sorority is Belle Davis. Her aptitude with a script has made her a marvel, they state: as f.^r as one agency producer she's worked with Is concerned. Reisman's Mexico 0.0. Phil Reisman, RKO's foreign di.<;- tribution chief, is planning a short inspection tour of Mexico sometime this month. Reisman got back about six weeks ago from South America, but feels that new developments in Mexico warrant a special trip. Adolph Zukor, .-pecial foreign de- partment representative for Para- mount, also is slated to visit IW.C. around Dec. 1. Goodwill reception, i similar to the one accorded him in Australia, is being planned. 'The Mob' Ralph RTchardson a sub-lieutenant in Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, attached to Fleet Arm. 6 Ace Mex Directors In Co-op Production Mexico City, Oct. 31. Believing that combined and con- centrated talent should bring forlh a smash pic, the Mexican Directors As.sn.- has arranged to produce a film on a co-op basis, director.s, play- ers and others concerned chipping in their time and effort for a pro rata slice of the profits. Pic is to be megged by Mexico's six ace directors—Fernando de Fuen- tes, Arcady Boytlcr, Gabriel Soria, Miguel Zacarias, Juan Bustillo Oro and Miguel Contreras Torres. Continued from p:i(;e I busine.ss was having tough going without having to take it on the chin from radio. He said that he was sure that the program could find other more interesting businesses to .shoot at, and reminded the agency that the business of taking race bets involved thousands of pcr.sons throughout the country and they were as important users of the prod- uct as any other class of consumer.'. The caller even went so far .n.s to cite the number of persons engaged in the handbook business in ihe leading cities of the country. He said that he knew that at leasl 40,- 000 persons were mixed up in it i" Chicago and that there mu.st be an- other 30,000 in the New York metro- politan area. He also recalled that the personnel setup included wire services, tipster sheets, etc. 'How would you like it,' he went on, 'if we hit back at you by starl- ing a whispering campaign about your products?' 'We wouldn't like it,' was the re- tort, 'but the threat won't stop us from carrying through our program plans.'