Variety (May 1941)

•VARIETT'S* LONDON OFFICE 8 St. Martin's Plate, TrufalnBr Sqaara INTERNATIONAL IS More Un-Good Neighborly Stuff U'» 'Argentine Nights' on the Pan—Even Doug, Jr., Gets a BrushofF in Argentina Another American distributor learned about the sensitiveness of Latin-American cinema audiences this weelc when Universal's 'Argen- tine Nights' was banned by Buenos Aires municipal authorities after the opening-night razzing the film received. Reports from the Argen- tine capital indicated~lhat the so- called resentment was\ caused by scenes showing. ArgenUrte types and customs. No word of banning had been received in N.Y. this week by the home office, which regarded the film as a lesser farce comedy. 'Argentine Nights' was released in U.S. previous to the establishment of the Nelson Rockefeller-Jock Whit- ney program for cementing hemi- spheric solidarity and developing goodwill between the Americas. The Hitz Bros, and Andrews Sisters are featured, with the usual zany antics of the former trio taking them to a reputedly South American country. A Universal executive said that it was all intended as good, clean fun, "and that the picture was released in Argentina under another title. Demonstration jn Buenos Aires, however, provoked newspaper writ- ers, the film editor of El Nacion, saying: 'As long as Hollywood in- sists on seeing Argentina as an in- credibly ridiculous tropical country, no Pan-American understanding is possible, no matter how many 'good- will travelers are sent here.' All U.S. film companies have been urged by the Rockefeller-Whitney group to send stars on goodwill visits to the Latin-Americas, but so far only Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., named on President Roosevelt's mission to study .means .for promoting Pan- Americanism through theatrical arts, has gone south. He recently was in Rio de Janeiro, en route to Buenos Aires. [One B.A. daily also took a side crack at him]. 'Down Argentine Way,' 20t h-Fo x first feature with Carmen MiraHdar has been okayed in Argentine since about 250 feet of film was eliminated and considerably more footage added, latter being highly compli- mentary to that nation. RKO's 'They Met in Argentina' is just go- ing out on U.S. release but may re- quire considerable doctoring before it goes to the Latin-Americas if re- leased in that territory, according to advance info. Alberto Vila, Argen- tine star, obtained for this particular production probably would be given considerably more to do if any foot- age is. added to' the picture for the Latin-American market. Recent experiences with films hav- ing Latin-American locales, charac- ters or stories in that market bear out the often-repeated contention of U.S. film company foreign chiefs. TKSl is that audiences in the Latin- Americas appreciate all the films which click in the U.S. and that they are not particularly interested in stories concerning their own na- tive lands. But if such yarns are made, because of current interest by .U.S. cinema audiences, they should stick to authenticity. RUSSE WHODUNIT U. S. Filmers Want to Know Who's Got Latvbn PlxT American film companies are still trying to locate prints of pictures which were in Esthonia, Latvia and Lithuania when the Russian troops marched in and took control about £ year ago. Representations were made to the U. S. State Department months ago but no reasonable ex- planation has been forthcoming to date. All the U. S. picture company for- eign departments know is the pic- tures ere missing. Also they have been unable to ascertain whether duplicates of the prints were-made for distribution under Russe auspices. Ultimately, American companies will demand reparations for the prints lost in these three small countries. Perkins Paints Gloomy Picture Of the Far East Restrictions on film imports in Japan, unfavorable dollar exchange in China end poor economic conditions in the Philippines represent a rather gloomy picture for U. S. picture dis- tributors in the Far East, according to J. E. Perkins, Paramount's man- aeer for t his a rea , who is in N. Y . 'Salute the Women' Clicks in Cape Town Cape Town, April 6. The Alhambra here was filled to capacity March 31 at the opening performance of 'Salute the Women,' written and produced by Captain Jack Stodel, Cape Town branch man- ager for African Consolidated The- atres, and played by the members of the South African Women's Aux- fliary Services. Each tableau show- ing the various details attached to the work of the W.A.S. was an ob- ject lesson in stage craft, though the show was played by amateurs. The house applauded repeatedly. Entire outfit goes to Johannes- burg at the end of the Cape Town season. I. W. Schlesinger,' theatre chain operator, is defraying the whole cost of the show to Johannes- burg and the hotel accommodations for members of the troupe. JAPS' PROBLEM Tokyo, April 10. -1 Beginning this month, the alloca- Uion of raw film in Japan is to be sharply curtailed. A serious social problem is ex- Ilected to result, for the majority of distributors will be forced to cease sending prints to halls in one-horse towns. for home office huddles. Perkins said that the few U. S. films imported to Japan do healthy business, but the restrictions on coin remittance htve cut out all American companies' im- mediate income from that country. Paramount shipped only six fea- tures last year for Japanese dis- tribution, and about the same num- ber likely will be handled this year, Perkins stated. He felt that Amer- ican distribs would be able to get their share this year of more than $800,000 which Japan deposited, in escrow, at the Yokohama Specie Bank, San Francisco, in 1938 unless the situation changes in the mean- time in the Far East. First of this money is due in September. Coin will be the first that American com- panies have had from that country since Japan clamped a ban on it soon after the Sino-Japanese struggle started. While business is favorable in China despite the war with Japan, the unfavorable exchange made it difficult for American distributors to remit the money to U. S., Perkins said. He headquarters in Shanghai, rated the best market for American films in China. Perkins expects to remain in U. S. for three weeks more before sailing for his home post. YANKS ABOUT THE ONLY ALIEN TALENT IN MEX. Mexico City, May 6. American performers are about the only foreigners who can do their stuff in Mexico, as the war has prac- tically eliminated all continental Eu- ropean artists because of difficulties in leaving home and getting into this country. Mexico demands of show folk that they must prove a fixed abode and each post a cash bond of $700 (Mex) ($140 U. S.) to guar- antee their leaving the country when their time is up. The war is keeping out all but a few British artistes. J. B. Nathan to N. Y. John B. Nathan, Paramount's man- ager for Argentina and Uruguay, is expected in N. Y. by the end of this month. He sails from Buenos Aires this week. Latin's Blonde Yen Buenos Aires, May 6. Hennc-rinse makers in South America are due for a bonanza, it's held here, now that Libertad Lamarque, No. 1-Argentine film star, has goiie blonde. Recent surprising popularity of blondes with Latin audiences probably accounts for change. Pauline Singerman, Argentine star especially strong in Cuba and Central America, is~a~1>sight blonde as is Amanda LedesmaT' fact wlii'ch' rareiy fails to amaze Hollywood visitors accustomed to thinking of '611 senoritas south of the border is raven-tressed. Senorita Lamarque's change- over will probably result in a good many fans following her lead for South American 'aficion- adas' are at least equclly as rabid about following star fads in hair, dress, etc., as in the States. U A BALKAN PIC LOSS NOT HEAVY No heavy losses on their revenue are anticipated by American dis- tributors' as a result of the Nazi suc- cess in the Balkans. Besides the fact that the entire Balkan market con- stituted only a small percentage of foreign distribution, few major com- panies had their own distribution setups in these countries. For example, most American com- panies got out of Roumania some time ago when, able to make satisfac- tory franchise deals. Few U. S. dis- tribs have sent new pictures to Hun- gary in many months. Embargo on coin remittance is one reason for this action. In Greece, nearly all American majors sold to the Skouras interests (relatives of U. S. Skouras broth- ers). Under the German regime, new pacts must be made and there appears small chance consequently of doing business there for a long time. In the Balkan countries*where the Nazis were able'to gain co ntrol without a fight, American comp&nies report they are continuing to -do business. Thct also is_true in Den- mark. Archibald Due in N. Y. This Week for UA Talk George Archibald, joint managing director in Great Britain for United Artists, is sis ed to arrive in New York later this week aboard clipper which leaves Lisbon tomorrow (Thursday). He was originally skedded to'-allgnd first of UA re- gional .conventions in New York couple weeks ago, but with post- ponement of the conclave will de- vote his stay entirely to huddles with home office execs. Major Charles H. Tebay, UA man^ ager in Trinidad, who has beMv^jm- fabbing at the New York office for the past six weeks, leaves tomor- row for home. PERY TO NEW POST Columbia's Australasia-Far East Mgr. Leaves for Sydney N. P. Pery, recently-named home office supervisor for Columbia in Australasia and the Far East, left over the weekend for. the Coast, preparatory to clippe'ring to Syd- ney to assume his new duties. He'll spend a few days in the studio in Hollywood before leaving for Down Under. Act on Fascist Beefs Cape Town, April 6. Due to complaints by German and Italian consuls against pro-British demonstrations, the authorities at Lourenco Marques, Portuguese East Africa, have ordered all cinemas to flash a screen notice' asking the-au- dience to curb their feelings when newsreels are shown. Should the pro-British attitude continue, the film must be stopped until demonstrations cease. Mex Filmgoers Still Prefer American Brand; Own Pix on Poverty Row Basis CUBAN REVOLUTION Hotel Sevilla Corp. Sues Director on Fraud Charge Havana, May 6. Lawsuit and a ballyhoo campaign m^k beginning of a new era for Hotel Sevilla here.; Interesting side- light has Amleto Batisti, the Sevilla's head, dickering for Andrews Sisters to plug hotel here and the inaugura- tion of new radio station in the hotel, CMBQ, operating on IISO kilo- cycles. At the same time the Hotel Sevilla-Biltmore Corp. and the Se- villa bondholders, in conjunction, are suing Batisti and an aide, one Ca- bezas, on charges of fraudulent con- spiracy. Claim is that Cabezas destroyed several account books, containing proof that $70,000 was 'embezzled' for 'operating expenses' at a • time over two years ago when hotel was closed. Ealing Studios Sign Producer Accord WithUA London, May'6.' Ealing Studios will become pro- ducers for United Artists under a pact signed this week. Deal is for six pictures annually for four years. It becomes effective at once, with two films to be delivered this season. They ^re 'Ships with Wings' and the next George Formby starrer. Ealing's releasing organization, Associated British Film Distributors, folds at the end of this year. UA will aid Ealing in financing its output if necessary. American company has considerable coin frozen here by currency export restrictions. Vichy's Cryptic Ruling Further Puzzles Pix Biz A new headache for American film company foreign managers cropped up in the huddle of foreign chiefs at the Hays office last week being concerned with the European situation. It stemmed from a pre- liminary report that the 'Vichy gov- ernment had ruled all money owed to creditors outside of France must be paid to the government at 'Vichy. Ruling was to become effective May 1, but early this week the Hays office still was awaiting official word. Interpretation of the edict also was sought of the State Department so ^fllm companies would know how it would affect their operations and pror "ties in that country. 1> Ajor company foreign chiefs ex- pected to hear directly from John Hay Whitney regarding progress on the program for cementing hemi- spheric solidarity but he failed to show up at Thursday's session. Tomorrow (Thurs.) 'Whitney is hosting trade press editors to outline this aspect. Subdue Mex Slayer Mexico City, May 6. While ejecting an alleged dope fiend, Juan Hernandez, Carlos San- chez, a civil engineer who conducts the only cinema at San Juan Teoti- huacan, state of Mexico, was stabbed in the head and died instantly. The murderer was caught behind the screen where he had fled after he had held off attaches and cops with his knife for 20 minutes. BAN 2 U.S. PIX IN JAPAN Tokyo, April 10. 'Destry Rides Again' (U) has been banned (or showing before children, 1 as well as 'Undcrpup' by the same i company. Eight meters were cut out of the ' former film by censors. By CHARLES DAGGETT Mexico City, May 6. American motion pictures lead th« field in Mexico and are the most fre- quently seen in the 600-odd houses wired for sound. Mexican pictures are second in popular favor but lately have been hard pressed by some lavish and well produced Alms from Argentina. French pictures come fourth now because there aire so few of them, but before the war stopped things in France they were ranked next to American illms. Mexican film business is strictly on a Poverty Row basis. There are a score or more producers, all in- dependent. They operate on limited capital, usually selling pieces of their production to the exchanges before it is made in order to get financing. Now and then several of the Indies pool their resources, but these are ephemer_a_Lcmnblncs. Can- tinflas, the great Mexfc'^n comedian is the only player'\&idfer contract (to Posa Films) at the present time. Producers have found the contract system too expensive and pick up actors when they need 'em. Alberto J.' Pani, of the Association of Producers and Distributors of Mexican Pictures, once several years ego formed a big company, placed a lot of players under contract and lost a fortune. He is at present owner and operator of Clasa Studios in Mexico (^ity. Since Pani's un> successful venture into big-scal« producing, there have been no like attempts made by other plungers. He makes no pictures now. None of the producing companies owns its own studios, renting space from Clasa, Azteca and George: StahL Empire studios, in Chapultepcc Hills, is now closed. Clasa has six sound stages. It is the newest and best equipped. It is just getting in a large shipment of laboratory equipment form the Fearless Camera Corporation in Hollywood. Azteca is old and badly- equipped, as compared to Hollywood studios. George Stahl is about on a par with Azteca. RCA sound is used mostly, along with Western Electric, and a sizeable number of home-made sound systems. There are about 1,000 houses in the coun- try, but approximately 400 do not have sound. Do It The Hard Way Technically, the Mexicans are far behind Hollywood. There is no truth to the supposition that Mexi- can workers do things the easy way. certainly not studio workers. Tech- nicians-work very hard. Some of them are highly skilled, but the equipment is not as modern or ef- ficient as it ought to be. Film lab men and other technical workers could be improved by intensive training in Hollywood's technical methods. Recent visit here of American film stars for the Mexican Motion Pic- ture Festival emphasized the adora- tion of the natives for picture per- sonalities. Surpri.sc to many of thosa in the Hollywood party was the re- ception given Laurel and Hardy and Joe E. Brown. Mexicans like comics of this type, as proved by their re- gard for Cantindas and El Chaflin, their leading comedians. Popular Mexican and American funny men have a common characteristic: they are earthy and simple, 'sympalico,' as the natives say. Claudette Colbert and Kay Francis .typify subtle sophistication which 'patrons also like and HoUyv/ood's crop of sweater girls, Linda Dar- nell, Ann Sheridan, Lana Turner, Carole Landis, Betty Grable, et, al, are enormously popular for the same physical reasons fans in the States like 'em. Norma Shearer could be in almost any kind of a picture and she would still have a tremendous following. Mexicans worship her type of beauty. Not To Be Trifled With Fans take their film fare seriously.- If they don't like a picutre they've been known to cut their seats to ribbons. If they want to get into • (Continued on page 25) Bert Reisman in N. Y. Bert Rei.sman, RKO's manager In Peru, presently is in New York fpr home office huddles. He's a brother of Phil, RKO's foreign chief. Bert Reisman is planning to re- turn to his home post, in the next 10 days, rather than wait until the sales convention scheduled for next month as originally Intended.. ;