Variety (Sep 1941)

Wednesday, September 8, 1941 PI€TUIIES S 'PULL' AND 'PACKAGE' EVIL Always 6 Fix in Work Is WB's Way To Insure Constant Product Flow Efforts to smooth out the lulls and humps in Warner Bros.' production, so that the distribution department is assured a smooth flow of product well in advance of release, as re- quired by consent decree selling, were made in confabs at the studio from which sales chief Grad Sears returned to New York over the weekend. Plan calls for minimum of half-dozen pix before the cameras every working day. High mark of the year is cur- rently being hit with 11 features on the stages. Twelve more go in the next two months, with 12 additional In preparation for the two months following. Three went into produc- tion yesterday (Tuesday). They are 'You're in the Army Now,' 'Remem- ber Tomorrow' and 'Wild Bill Hic- kok Rides.' Others in work are 'Male Animal,' •Died With Their Boots On,' 'Kings Row,** 'All Through the Night,' •Bridges Built at Night,' 'Man Who Came to Dinner,' 'Captains of the Clouds' and 'The Body Disappears.' Scheduled for an early start are •Always in My Heart,' 'Background to Danger,' 'Night Freight,' 'Manhat- tan Fury,' 'Bad Men of Montana,' 'Here Come the Girls,' "The Man They Couldn't Kill' and 'The Damned Don't Cry.' In the preparatory stage for No- vember-December lensing are 'Jook ■Girl,' 'Mark Twain,' 'Yankee Doodle Dandy,' 'Rhapsody in Blue,' 'Night Before Christmas,' 'Dust to Dust,' 'Gentleman Jim,' 'Men of Iron,' 'Mississippi Belles,' 'Up at the ViUa,' 'In This Our Life' and 'Saratoga Trunk.' Stevens Kept Jumping To Pilot Four Biggies Hollywood, Sept. 2. George Stevens, currently direct- ing the Katharine Hepburn-Spencer Tracy picture, 'Woman of the Year,' at Metro moves over to Columbia as producer and director of 'Mr. Twi- light,' when he washes, up his Cul- ver City chore. Cary Grant and Jean Arthur co- star in 'Mr. Twilight,' second and last of the producer-director stint for Stevens at Columbia. First of the two-picture deals was 'Penny Seren- ade.' Par's 11 at the Post Hollywood, Sept. 3. Paramount has 11 new pictures Elated to go in the next two months, starting off with 'Tombstone,' co- starring Richard Dix and Frances Gifford. Other September starters are 'The Lady Has Plans,' "The Fleet's In,' 'This Gun for Hire,' Tor pedo Boat' and 'Prison Windows.' October slate calls for "The Wizard of Arkansas,' 'Out of the Frying Pan, •True to the Army,' 'Holiday Inn, Take a Letter, Darling' and 'Mr. and Mrs. Cugat.' EZZEU SUCCEEDING ESPY AS GOLDWYN Yf . Hollywood, Sept. S. Marvin Ezzell, head of Goldwyn Studios, Inc., for the past five years, has been named v.p of Goldwyn Productions, Inc., succeeding to the spot to be vacated by Reeves Espy. EzzeU will fiU both Jobs temporarily, until a new head Is named. Espy moves out next week under a friendly agreement with Goldwyn to become producer of A pictures under supervision of Sol Lesser at RKO. Ten Percenter Gimmick of Selling Own Stars, Writ- ers, Directors as Parcel, Plus Lack of Social Con- tacts of 'Connections' Keeps Producer Talents and Genius Under Wraps MUST TAKE THE CRUMBS WELLES SEWS UP ENTIRE PATHE L0TF0R4PIX Hollywood, Sept. 2. Orson Welles' next Mercury Pro- duction, The Magnificent Amber- sons,' gets under way at the RKO- Pathe lot in Culver City Sept, 18. With that in production, and with three more Welles pictures to follow immediately, he will have all the available space on the lot tied up. David O. Selznick, at present, is quartered at the same studio^ but he can't get started there because Wel- les has precedence on the space. WANGER'S ENGLISH PIC DEAL HALTS THEYENNE' Maria Korda Sets Up As Riyal to Ex-Hubby , Hollywood, Sept. 2. Maria Korda, first wife of Alex- ander Korda, United Artists producer, w going into the film production business on her own, with a company to be known as M. Maxine Korda Productions. Recent court contract, which cleared up the old marital disagree- ment, gave Maria Korda an Income of $1,250 a month under life Insur- ance annuities; $15,000 to clear title to Jewels, and legal expenses of $4,500. Harpo Back West Hollywood, Sept. 2. Harpo Marx returns to the/Coast next Sunday (7) after spendmg the summer in the east playing several strawhat engagements. 1 Silo appearances included blaying Ijimself in The Man Who C^me to Dinner,' with George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, and 'The Yellow Jacket," with Alexander Woollcott. Hollywood, Sept I. Production of 'Cheyenne' has been deferred indefinitely by Walter Wan- ger, who is tied up by a deal with Argosy in the shooting of 'Eagle Squadron' in England and does not want two pictures In work at the same time. During the lull, Winston Miller and Nancy Gross are polishing the script of 'Cheyenne,' based on an original by William Rankin. Wanger meanwhile is supervising the scoring of his latest completed picture. 'Sun- down,' slated for release by United Artists. GOLDWYN'S TAKE Over $100,000 Rental From 'Foxes' at Musio Hall Rental obtained by Samuel Gold- wyn from the Music Hall, N. Y., on first week of 'The Little Foxes' run there, was $34,000, not a record but near it. Second week, winding up tonight (Wednesday), which in- cludes the upped admish prices of the Labor Day holiday, will prob- ably produce around $38,000 in film rental. That means that a total of weU in excess of $100,000 will be turned over by the M. H. to RKO, Goldwyn's distribs, for a minimum run offour weeks. Holdover beyond that also appears possible on basis of current strong biz. RKO's deal with the Hall for 'Foxes' is similar to that of other distribs on most pictures that play the house. It calls for 25% rental on gross up to $80,000, 30% to $90,- 000 and 50% on everything over that. Subtracted from the rental is a few thousand dollars' advertising allow- ance by the producer. Pic did $114,000 for the opening week and is expected to clear better than $120,000 for the second. Rec- ord was set by 'Top Hat' in 1935 with $131,006. Opening week of that en- gagement took in Labor Day. Reported RKO Executive Changes (If Any) Won t Happen Before Dec. 15 Arthur Landan, Ex-Agent, Joins RKO as Breen Aide By ABTHDR UNGAB Hollywood, Sept 8. Progress of a producer in Holly- wood is mostly determined by his ability to get talent, directors and writers for the material he is going to produce. Many Individuals In pro- duction ranks who are making inter- mediate pictures today are better qualified for upper bracket produc- tion duties than a good portion of those that are turning out the so- called 'A' product. But the former have not the proper connections. Even though they were assigned to handle the 'A' or topnotch type of production, many of them would not hazard the chance, fearing that all they would have is the assignment but not the ingredients to put into it for the finished product. There are many reasons for this. One is social. Another, the lack of sufficient intimate acquaintance with top rung stars or directors, or no in- side contact with an agent who is handling important personalities within the ranks of the industry. Hollywood has many producers, among the major plants today, who thrive and succeed on nothing but acquaintanceship and contact. Most vital, of course, is the high- bracket name or names who head a picture cast. Then come the di- rectors and top writers. In the studios there is always one, two or more individuals in the producer group who are 'political' enough to have a star, director or writer under obligations to them. Too, they may have an agent who Is also in the same spot. Agent Tleup The agent tieup is an Important one. For a great number of the top-spot producers place themselves under the guidance of 10%ers. Some probably need them, while others might not, to transact negotiations and biz with their employers. How- ever, all seem to realize that having a friendly or Intimate agency connec- tion and paying it commission means that the agent will go out of his way to see that the producer progresses and gets the right material and talent for his production. Though this system has its ad- vantages in the agent who handles star talent in all branches of the industry, favoring his producer client in delivering freelance topnotch per- sonalities, as well as influencing top calibre people who are under con- tract on the lot where the producer is employed to work in his particular current assignment. It also has its drawbacks. These disadvantages sometimes kick back on the producer, for he may be persuaded from time to time by his agent to not only cast per- sons whom latter is anxious to get in his picture, but others whom the agent has under his wing and feels should be included in the package. Then again one will find that the agent will cajole his producer client into taking not only his personally slugged name talent but a director, and writers whom he may not feel are perfectly qualified to work on his script. He does this because the agent tells him it is the perfect way to wrap up his package, at the same time subtly hinting that should he shy away from the bundle the pro ducer might find it all unwrapped and given to someone else, either on his own lot or elsewhere. That has happened very frequently at major studios in the past five years. This method of operation has (Continued on page 12) Aollywood, Sept. 1. Arthur Landau, after as years in the agency biz, ha* joined RKO ai an aide to Jo* Breen. I^andau was one of th« outstanding agents, a specialist In handling writers and stories. He was a partner in Small- Landau Co., and later had his own biz. He was agent for both Marie Dressier arid Jean Harlow imtll their deaths. Likely that Landau will devote time to writers and story material suggestions for Breen. SELZNICK, S. F. HOUSE ON UA AGENDA Hollywood, Sept 1 . Discussion of the impending David O. Selznick deal and approval of the pact for acquisition of the United Artists theatre, San Francisco, were top subjects on the agenda at the meeting of United Artist owners here today (Tuesday). Question of se- lecting a president for the company was also up for discussion, it Is understood. In town for huddles with owners Mary Pickford, Charles CHiaplin and Alexander Korda before, during and after the executive session, were Arthur W. Kelly, operating head, and Edward C. Raftery, counsel and secretary of U. A. Kelly came In at the end of last week and Is expected to leave tomorrow (Wednesday) night. Raftery arrived yesterday (Monday) from Nashville, where he had been representing UA in the Crescent (Tony Sudekum) trial. UA owners were expected to give their approval to deal by which com- pany becomes partner in the Frisco house. Details following a hitch In original negotiations, were worked out in a flying visit to S. F. by Harry Buckley, UA v.p., who will be In charge of company's Impending cir- cuit. Theatre opening, slated for last Thursday (28), according to news- paper ads and billboards, was post- poned when negotiation! hit the snag. Plans now are to unveil it next week with the pictures originally scheduled, 'Major Barbara,' (Pascal- UA) and 'Tanks a Million' (Roach- UA). Herman Cohen,'who hod operated the house independently since ao- qulring Jo* Schenck's interest five years ago, wiU receive around $150,000 for it UA wUl own a S0% share of it, with th* oth*r 60% being divided between D. J. McNerney, UA's S. F. exchange head, and Joe Blumenfeld, who ar* also partners in numerous other operations. Buckley flew to th* Coast from New York early last week and re- turned east over th* weekend. He was in Los Angeles on Friday (29) to bring down final papers and out- line operations to the owners. Reported exec changes at RKO—if they are coming—won't occur be- fore about Dec. 15, It has been learned. Board meeting slated orig- inally for June 15, and postponed, will be held around that time. Re- port will also be presented at th* meeting on completion of almost two years operation by RKO sine* it came out of reorganization pro- ceedings. That occurred in mid- January, 1040. Scheduled to have their steward- ship reviewed. In addition to prez George J. Schaefer, are Malcolm Kingsberg, exec v.p. of Keith-Albee Orpheum, and Leon Goldberg, sec- retary of the same subsid, which controls RKO theatre operations. Kingsberg and Goldberg originally came into the far-flung Radio-Keith- Orpheum subsid structure via the Mike Meehan interests, which they represented. With Meehan having been bought out, the two execs are on their own and subject purely to the board's appraisal of their work. Sfchaefer's departure from RKO after the board conclave continues to be freely rumored In the Industry, although there has never been one whit of Intimation by a member of the board or anyone else who actu- ally could be counted in the know bearing out the rumors. In fact, anything that has been indicated has been to the contrary and It Is un- derstood Schaefer is being offered a new five-year termer, although with six-month options. PRESSBURGER GUNS 1ST HLM UNDER UA DEAL Hollywood, Sept. 1 'Shanghai Gesture' went Into work at the Hal Roach studio ai Arnold Pressburger's first job tmder his re leasing deal with United Artists. Josef Von Sternberg directs, with Gene Tlerney, Victor Mature an4 Ona Munson in th* top spots. Pressburger's deal calls for a maxi- mum of four pictures a year for three years. Johnny Miles waa signed I as publicity director. HARRY JOE BROWN OUT AT 20TH; 5 PIX HANGING Hollywood, Sept S. With 20th-Fox since 1938 as asso- ciate producer, Harry Joe Brown checked off the lot following com- pletipn of 'Wild Geese Calling.' Five productions, originally as- signed to Brown, are being re- assigned to other producers. They are 'Sioux City,' 'One Night In Bucharest,' 'Down to the Sea In Ships,' 'Lucky Baldwin' and 'De- layed Action.' Par Inks Robinson, Boyer, And McCrea for bales' Hollywood, Sept 2. Charles Boyer, Edward G. Robin- son and Joel McCrea were tied by Boris Morros as the flrst three of IS principals for seven episodes in Tales of Manhattan,' to be produced this autumn by Paramount Story deals with the adventures of wearers of an evening suit worn by various characters In the picture. Par Wants Blumenthars London Suit Settled 1st Paramount Pictures applied to N. Y. supreme court yesterday (Tuesday) for permission to hold up all proceed- ings in Benjamin Biumenthal's $965,000 suit against It, until such time as Biumenthal's similar action In London is deterjnined. The pro- moter claims Par backed down on a deal whereby he secured a pur- chaser for Paramount's British theatre holding;^. Blumenthal says ha was hired in August, 1938, by Paramount with the understanding the "money was to be at least £2,300,000. The pur- chaser Blumenthal says he secured wa£ willing to pay £2,500,000 but Paramount allegedly backed out Jed Harris' RKO Pro Tern Hollywood, Sept 2. Jed Harris, after flirting with va- rious picture offers for the last six years, has signed a four-week temporary deal with RKO. Will work with Sol Lesser.