Variety (Oct 1940)

-» St. BtortUi'i Pliic*, Trafalgar Sqiiaw IHTERHATIONAL 13 /' :M(^Ico 'City,::Qct ^8;:■■'•■ C()ny*ncei that the law demanding ttie cptopulsQiy exhibition of IVIexi- caiv pix; at the rate 6f one feature ifi enough siiortf; to mtUos fea- j^r^; at least thrice ft flop,' Congress, ^ at' the; rctiuest <^v President Lazarq Ciar^enas, has nixed the measure. This law went into effect. Sept 1, 1937, and had raised plenty ned ior both exhibitors and the goverhinerit/ The; ex^^^ repeatedly told the;; government that they couldn't obey the mandate be- cause of the piiny oUtpiut bt domestic producers. : . President Cardenas ordered an in- yestigation and ascertained that the exhibitors spoke the truth. Nixing this law is: seen as aiftordirig Ajneri' can pix even . .wider exhibition in Mexico. They liow control 96% Of this market. • Mexican producers have again asked ithe . government, for aiiy kind of aid to help them iri their struggles and ward off extinction. They de- clare that their exemption for flye years from several federal taxes isn't ehotigh to turn; th» , trick in their favor, HANBURY'S SUGGESSOR For British RKO:, PosiU^Sev^ ' :'Hiive'Beeh.Suffeesled.:V To OK Biz orte .■■ Lohdbn,',' Qct. 9, . Several inentioned • to. fill, the . va- cancy caused by: the, de^ith of Ralpli Haribury,.: managing d^^ for RKQ's Great Britian; company; but directors of RKO-ftadio Pictures^ Ltd., thos -far have hot pick€«^ cessor;. Hiahbury . was killed last week by'. a Nazi bomb which; hit his sijb.urbah home near here. birectors met early, this week, but took no action.: 0. W. Dawison, sec- retaryi and T. Simon,; sales itianagfer, are. carrying On opera'tions. ' Australia Nixes Yank • Completion of I^cal Pic Sydney, Sept. 18V ^ Government ; has -nixed y Charles Chauevel taking '40 Thousand Horse- men' to Universars4€ollywood studr^ los for completion. > Crown Solicitor , ha;? ruled .' thiat with the government holding ah in- terest of $50,000, the pic miast be corhr pleted in epuhtry of oirigin^ and that the first earnings must go toward reducing the amount advanci^^ by^ the government. Sydney, Oct, 8. - Australian show business, envisions a: bright Yuletide season. This is particularly true of picture business because. the supply Of American screen product not only has come -into this country in a steady flow but also has held to what many exhibs claim to be its usually high standard. Optimistic outlook is bringing pressure,for a government easing of monetary restrictions early next year in order to boost major con- c4rl and i. vaudeville imports, par- ..tlcularly those fi?oih. ,the.:StatiBS.:^^^^^: :^ Given a continuous .product: line- up, picture men. here. visualize a tremenduous: business upbeat in the future, with', unemployment decreas- ing as war work speeds up. Fan Alafs Hurt Bis Absence: of general circulation for U. S. film fan magazines is being felt by exhibitors in Australia, accordlnig •to word "received by" homebffice ex-r ecutives in N. Y. Reported that the Showmen's Assn. In^ Sydney is at- tempting to ; interest American dis- tributors in starting a joint fan rhag publication. This would depend on government approval since paper is being severely rationed in Australia now. _^ Australian government several months ago, in a war measure, ruled that imported fan magazines could not be sold on the newsstands. This was done to prevent money from leaving Aussie territory. > - • .• ^ , Mexico City, Oct. 8. ■ ■ The strike ^or: higher pay, liess work and a biinch of economic bene- flits, which have kept closed, for a month the. Cervantes circuit of five nabe .film theatres,. got in the hair of the Mexican exhibitors'; union so much that It addressed, ah. open let- ter to President Lazaro Cardenas and the- civic government to act to- ward ending the tieup. and giving the employers 'a square deal.' The Cervantes strikers are de- manding what amounts to double pay and benefits including in- demnification for 'professional ill- nesses,' those contracted while on the job.. : The exhibitors ^assert the de- mands are fantastic. _ Rumors _here '_ that firstrruh ex- hibitors, .^ith the help of Aniierican and other foreign pix interests, have ganged up to eliminate the nabes so as to cop more coin by; forcing the public fb attend the, high-pay cinemas' exclusively "are denied by the union, which asserts that all ex- hibitors are on the most. friendly terms..; The port of Vera Cruz's two best cinemas, Variedades and Eslava, are shut; by a*; strike to force the- ex- hibitors to up pay and ciit down work. '■■■:■..;■■•/;;".:■.■:■;':.:■■. .Foreign managers for U. S companies are looking: for a com- plete overhauling ot the . British quota when the present 12-month period in Whicli the quota, is effeotiye erids Oct. 31.; The fevy companies that have . been active in England, namely, Metro, Paramount and War • ner Bros.j in attemptihg quota pic- tures in London during the last two Or three months have become; con-; vihced thiat: it is ■ almost a. hopeless taisk while the heavy Nazi bombing raids continue. Because of this :they believe' that the British government- will scrap the present stiff quota; proyisiohs. and bring them more intb - line with .■current production possibilities on the British Isles. Latest reports from Ldhdpn indi- cate that only day work is possible because of the severe blackouts at night. ;\Even ;Wheh \there is no im- mediate danger of being struck by a heavy bomb, the n.oise of nearby. Nazi aerial blasts and the anti-air- craft fire from the ground neces- sitate shutting down production, consequently, all producers are far. behind on their production sched- ules.: RCVRS. WITH AUTEN An action by Maurice Mauger and Marcel Cbutaht, receivers and trus- tees*of the Societe Pathe Cinemft S. A., against Harold Auten for $196,- 872 was settled out of thie N. Y. su- preme court Wednesday (2). Settle- ment provides for payment by the defendant of $3,000 to the plaintiffs, and delivery to them of all prints, negatives and advertising ^ matter with respect to seven films of Pathe which were the basis'for the dispute. x.f*^ April, 1933, Aiiten was granted We American ' distribution' rig^ to Pathe's product, the deal to end Dec. 31; 1933, Auteri to be paid a percent- age of the profits. Action charged .u * ^®bailed to inake an accounting; mat he duplicated the negatives arid sold them fdr distribution with- put the consent of Pathe, and con- tinued to sell the films after the ex- piration date of the contract. Films jnyolyed were 'Grosstadt Nacht,' Ariane,' fUn Monastere,' 'Les Deux Orphalines,' Toil de Garotte,' 'Paris- Mediterranee,"Los Garetees de I'Es- . "-adron; Harold Sherman, of Fitelson <« Mayfers, represented the plaintifTs. . Paris, Sept.. 24. For the first time since German troops swept into French territory, film, cameras have started grinding again in Marseilles' studios. Three picts are on the lot. Two were begun during the war; the third is new. Marcel .^^agnol's studios, among the busiest of prewar Frahcej ar.ei hah.d- ling two. ■■■;,■ ■■-.:':; ~ : ' /.;::. Film just begun is ^Qhambre 13' CRbom 13'). The lead is a young uh- known, still plying his trade as hat-, check boy in a local restaurant when he is hot . in the ■ studio. The second is 'La Fille du Puisateur' ('The Well Digger'^ daughter'), with • Josette film Day, 'begun "last spring.^ Both are ■ beinjg . produced by Pagnbl's stiidi'os. ; In a second, undisclosed studio in the Mediterranean ■; port city, : the well-known married troupers, come- dian Jules Berry and Joselyne Gael, are completing a film, begun in . the last months of the war, niegged by Andre Hiigoh. No such activity can be reported in the occupied zone where ..the Germahs have taken over "the stu-; dips, eyen;if temporarily. Permission: to do few pictures has already been turned down by the new rulers. Paris, however, despite its .11 p.m. curfew is slowly but; surely pointing towards; i certain degree of normalcy in the entertainment field.' ■■' ; : V The: 'music hall has become the most .cpminon form Of amusement for both the French inhabitants and the German occupants. There are pres- ently nine houses giving variety shows and revuies and tWo: others are skedded for early unshuttering, v Music Halls Leading Way The ABC and the Optimistes,. the only two music halls which were giving internationar class vaude be- fore the war, are again leading the Way. The ABC. is featuring Georgius, very .popular' cornic ,singer and F. W. AUport, Hays; office repre sentative in England, is appearing in^ 1 monolo'gist. Then there is the Pig behalf of the American film industry alle, the most modern theatfe in CORnELD MAY QUIT during present negotiations. On Mex Labor Favor U. S. Picture London, Oct. 8. . Persistent- but unconfirmed . - ports here are that John . Corfield, head .of British National Films; is about to resign. COrfleld was founder of the outfit, which releases through Anglo- Americfln.; Both the latter and Brit- ish National are : financed by Lady Yule. :'■■. Londbn in Wartiine ■ y London, Sept. 24. . jack Hylton has started hew war -vogui With his -lO touring shows in the provinces. <Open .Ports,' film to prove to the .world that English ports are still a hive of activity, despite German claims, being made by Arrow Pub- licity . (John P. Jftyers), in full vac- cord v/ith the Ministry -of Informa- tion. Robert CuUen directing; Soit of . Olivelli, Who was supposed to have gone.down. with, the Birtkihg of the Arandora Star; has Just writ- ten hoihe that he is safe in Australia; Friends •of. Arnold. ; Pressburger, who was for years with Alexander Korda at Denham, are ahxibusly looking for him. Has not been heard of since the ., Geriharis . invaded France, where he stayed temporarily. Announcement of government pol- icies in Mexico by Avila C^macho, country's newly elected president. Is viewed by U. S; picture officials in N. Y. as a break for the American film industry, Camacho hot only outlined a future business-like ;policy but so far has dodged every attempt to line him up behind the current labor -group-in -Mexifco. ■ U.. S. film executives have con- tested the spread of drastic labor moves: In the Mexitan territory for the last.- three years or more. -Fact that the retii-ing governmental re- gime has been, such a strong advo- cate of the labor group has proved costly to all distributors in Mexico. Recent regulations hitting the pic- ture business \yere so severe that at One time film; inspecTor's;ih exchanges were ' receiving: 45 pesos ' (about '$9 American money) per day. High scales also extended to other branches of the film business in Mexico. : ;V; '■ ■ LANGE TO EUROPE THURS. (10) . Fred Lange, Paramount's manager in Europe, is 'plannirig; to '^hoye off for Europe;.• tomorrow ;(Thui'Sday) Via Atlantic Clipper. Only; thing that may stall his departure will be inability to obtain -the. necessary visas, 'i'-'.- '- ■ ';■:..■■ ,:.■;..:',... .. '■: .•■'■ Lange wants to •visit Portugal, Spain, Frah^e'and Switzerland; His,; initial activity .will be to ' wind up rernainlng detaiis' connected with the liquidatioh ot Paramount's distribu- tion, iri Nazi-heid countries where Par has been - ordered . by the Ger- man government .to cease doing busi- ness. He:may travel to other Euro- pean nations where altered distribu- tion setup '■ demanifls his immediate attention. Paris, which has revolving stages. It went iri for music ball a few weeks before --the- iamistidfe; after .being closed for several ; . That; vaude show lasted 10 :days and the house shuttered again until recently. There are the Folies Bergere and the Palace with 'Beautes deFemmes.' Be.for4 and during the war the Palace put on a show with the same name which ranked as the top nude production Of the capitSl. Like the new Folies Bergere show, the Palace . ladies have ; been obliged to don hiore clothing • than the tradi- tional 'G' string of J?bre. Others are the Theatre de I'Etoile. where" riori-French picts were shown befoire the Germans came to town; the Deux Anes, a typical French music hall type of show understood" by the French only; the Eve and the T)0n~Juan7~l»1K^fbTrnerly rtudist show places. Following in the footsteps Of ;the Theatre de rEtoile,. the Normahdie, former Champs-Elysees deluxe ftlrir showcase, is being transformed for music. hall shows while the Lido, where the famous can-can girls dis- ported themselves .until June; is also being prepared for" early opening. : . After the .Openings of the Opera and Opera Comique in late August, the third national .subventioned : (government-backed) theatre; the Comedie Fraricaise, horrie of the. classical theatre, unshuttered Sept. 7 with , few skits : and . ia •: lectureX (It .was due , tO open formally, with Moliere's 'Misanthrope' before the end of the month,; with pic and legit star Jean Loiiis Barrault in the lead. ; The Odeon was shortly to fol- low suit;.) -:■■•.■■■'•;■ ' ':-' Legit Holding: Its Own ;Legit is holding its b\yn, consider- ing, the actual state of; affairs in' the capital. Sacha Guitry's 'Pasteur' is ■stilling holding forth at the Made- leine as are 'We Are Not Married' at the /AmbaSsadeurs and .'Juliette' at .the peuyre. An unnamed comedy skit is bciirig given at: the' Palais Royale, home of farce "arid corriedy. Louis Jpuyet has arinbunced: . the. opening oif the Athenee" with 'Ecple des Femmes' .('Women's School'). Louis Herraud . Will. reopen at the Michel., with : his - closing • show, 'Ecole de- ■■. la . Medisance' French adaptation of 'School for Scandal.* Most of the film showcases are again functioning/ Many have been requisitioned by the Germans to en- tertain . their occupation , troops. • Among them , arie the Marignan, Rex and Radio City . and a ' number. of ■ new.sreel houses. Restaurarits, hotels arid cafes aire doing what they can in: spite, of fobd and other, restrictions. Germans .are ' seen at the very hest restaurarits, : ; although most of them do; more' im.r bibing: of. French • wines, cham- ;. pagnes and li^uori thain they do eat- ing. • The Ritz, Crillon, Continental, Maiiricei ;the' Scribe ; and othfer first- class hotels have been, requisitioned by the ^Germans. It doesn't really' make . much difference because the. other „ hotels aren't doing much biz just how anyway. 'y " v,".. ■■ The best bit of news for Parisians in recent.;days has been the reopen-!, ing of the fashipnaple Bois de Boulogne to the French. Until re- cently- the Germans had clOsed it, but now,.. with the bar down,, the Parisians are flocking., back to .th^ir favorite park. French Hostile to; Nazis. The greatest check to normalcy is, of Goursei the presence of CJermart ; troops, - towards ; whorn the French, people are said to have kdapted •' more hostile • attitude /• in .- recent . Weeks. /. Gone- are ' the; usual com- ments that the -trpdips are. 'cprreot- and polite.' :. The French have now picked lip the Dutch riiethbd of com- pletely .ignoring the presence of the irivader. Then there are the .peoplie who just, don't want to be entertained fpr various reasons: either husbands; or son.s are prisoners or killed, etc. . There is the lack of money and the German curfew laws and lack ot transportation. The metres.. (sub- ways) run uritil 10 p.rii. and are terribly overcrowded with rnany sta-. tions. still closed. Tax;s are unknown, while buses only run toi suburban pOirJts; ; The curfew sounds between 10:50 and 11 p.m. After it has sounded all inhabitants must remain in their hpmes until 5. a.m. Trains arriving aher the curfew remain, in the sta- tions, with passerigers forced to stay in their cPhiipartments until morning-. Troop patrols . catching anyone out force the 'transgressors' to. accom- pany them on their beats until morn- ing, when they are fined or prisoned. .im- Compulsory Showings Of Propaganda Pictures In Aussie Canberra, Sept; is! Powers previously granted to: the i nformation department, headed by Sir Keith Murdoch, have been toned down under the Amended National Security Regulations okayed by the Fe_deral government. Pic manajre- rrienfs a're jnow bh'l3r required 'to de*' vote 10 minutes in every program to shorts sponsored by-the infprrtiation; department ^for- propaganda : pur- poses. ;;•--: , . ;; ":.;.■ Formerly, the director of informa-.- tion had the power to compel man- agements tp run pix backed by the department irfespectiye of any prior cpntracts with distribs covering, any program, •■, This ruling, however, was liever brpught tb bear, and the, pic. industry as whole, had notified Murdoch pf its williri^^ness. to aid in the national war effort - in every possible way. Right now, a council of, exhibs, diistribs and producers is working in- cooperation With . Al'ain Box. film officer attached to the .inV fprrnation department, to aiii the gpyernment to the fullest possible extent.; Information departrnent will do a seriesi of .12 shorts for local play- dates, .: ' . , - . 4 U.S. Pix, New Low, • , For Japanese Release ■'.; .... '. ;;;;■ .; Tokyo, Sept.''8, American picts which- will be re- leased Japan ' ; the coming :autumn season comprise only four, an unprecedented low. They arie 'Union' Pacific' (Par)i 'Hunchback of Notre Dame', (RKO), 'Broadway Melody of 1940' (M-G), and. 'When Tomorrow Comes' (U).