Variety (Sep 1941)

16 INTERNATIOMAL •WAHnXXV LOHDOH OFCTOa Argentine Fix Seek Distrib Extension In U.S.; Shauer, Moreno Behind Move Buenos Aires, Sept. 16. First attempt to secure extensive U. S. ?howings of Argentine-made pix with subtitles In English is to be launched shortly. Currently, only showings of Argentine pics in the States are in a limited number of houses in Manhattan, Southern Cali- fornia and Texas which get a Span- ish-speaking trade only. Move, which is expected to have the blessing of Jock Whitney's sec- tion of the Rockefeller Committee because of its goodwill exchange as- pects, will be worked as a strictly commercial proposition, however. It's figured that there is a sufficient au- dience attending the arty foreign- language houses in the States to make it pay. Like French imports designed for general showing, the Argentine-made will be subtitled in New York and then distributed to many of the spots suffering from a lack of the French product. Upbeat of interest in Latin America may also serve to produce a big student and hemisphere-mind- ed trade, it's believed. Initial effort Is being made by Mel Shauer, formerly a director and now agenting in Hollywood. His wife, Bosita Moreno, U. S.-Latin star, re- cently here to make a film for the new Baires studio, did the selecting of the two pix Shauer will release Films chosen, 'Historia de Una Noche' (Sono Film) and "Los Martes, Orquideas' (Lumiton) were both out- standing critical and b.o. successes here. Themes are also such that they're held likely to appeal to U. S. audiences. Author John Erskine, here recently under the guidance of the Rocke- feller group, will be sought to do the subtitling. Erskine has done a num- ber' of films from French to English and in addition to this expressed great interest while here in helping promote Argentine-mades. Argentina currently makes 60 to 70 full-length features annually. Of this, about a quarter might be suit- able for U. S. showings. Spanish Pix Beleases The recently United South Amerlr can Pictures Corp., with offices in New York, plans to present a pro- gram of Spanish-language pictures in the U.S. during the 1941-42 sea- son. The schedule includes 10 fea- ture films and five shorts. Edmund St. Struhl, president, an- nounces that beginning in October, the company will release a feature a month and one short every two months. Pictures were made in South America. Pix will be released with their original Spanish dialog, supplemented by EngUsh titles. BRITISH PIC COS. PUSH RELEASE OF ANTIP COIN 'Variety* as Guide V.xKiCTT reviews of Argentine- made pics were used by Rosita Moreno, U. S.-Latin film star, in determining upon features for distribution in the States. Picts chosen, 'Los Martes, Or- quideas' and 'Historia de Una Noche,' were both given excel- lent notices by Variety which is the only U. S. trade paper to carry reviews of all Argentine- mades. WB'S WORKERS JOIN STRIKE IN MEXICO Warners is the third major Ameri- can film company to be affected by strike of Mexican exchange work- ers. Employes walked out last Wednesday '(17) after the deadline set for settlement of the controversy had passed. A new time limit, ex- tending now to Sept. 29, has been placed for remaining American major distributing companies to ad- just difficulties. Employes of Metro and Columbia struck Sept. 3. What the U. S. firms consider to be fantastic. demands embrace a 30% wage increase; vacation trip to Hollywood 'at least once a year and severance pay. Latter pro- vision, if granted; would be re- troactive to the time that company went into business in Mexico. Mexican newspapers have pub- lished comparative wage scales which show that in some respects salaries paid in the Mexican film industry are higher than those paid by other businesses. Wellington, N. Z., Sept. 5. Another bid has been made to Wew Zealand's Finance Minister, Walter Nash, by the British Film In- (justry Association, which covers mostly Associated 'Talking Pictures, Gaumont-British, General Film Dis- tributors and Associated British, for permission to transfer all British rental coin from New Zealand to London. Presently there is a freeze of 50% on British coin in this zone, brought in as a wartime measure. A seven-point plea has been sub- mitted to Nash. Hypo Mex Pic Interest Mexico City, Sept. 23. Picture employers and labor are believed to have succeeded in stim- ulating public interest in the busi- ness with fiestas and ballyhoos dur- ing .second National Cinematographic week, Sept. 11-17. This was considered the best show the industry has ever staged. Lecuona to Produce Havana, Sept. 16. Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona reports a successful, dicker with Er- nesto Smith for the Teatre de la Comedia, where he will produce a feries of his own new musical shows beginning in October. He's recently back from a tour of South America. Reachi Merges His Mex Ad Biz to Devote More Tune to Theatricals, Pix Mexico City, Sept; 23. Santiago Reachi, member of the Mexican family that has long been prominent in the international amusement business and one of this country's ace advertising men, has merged his publicity organization, Publicidad Organizada, S. A., with Grant Advertising, S. A., conducted by Will Grant and David Echols. Purpose was so Reachi can devote all his tim£ to show and picture business. Reachi is president of Posa Films, S. A., which has Cantinflas (Mario Moreno), ace tramp comic, under exclusive film contract. Reachi has organized a theatrical booking and presentation firm here which has taken over for remodeling at a cost of $200,000 (Mex) ($50,000 U. S.) the Teatro Politeama, an old stage house that for several years has been a cinema. Politeama is to feature streamlined Mexican revues, slanted for American tourists, and headed by Cantinflas, who is also a direc- tor of the amusement firm. The Reachi enterprise is to book acts for Mexico in the U. S. and Mexican acts for north of the bor- der. Politeama is skedded for a late-fall reopening. 'Kane' in Sydney Debut to Fine Biz Sydney, Sept. 5. School vacation has given all film theatres a top biz break. Leaders are 'Lady Hamilton' (UA) and 'Fan- tasia' (RKO), with 'Lady Eve' (Par) a click with adults. 'Citizen Kane (RKO) bowed in with plenty ol ballyhoo and looks like developing into high b.o. Melbourne, Sept. 23. Listed in this spot to solid trade are 'Thief of Bagdad' (UA), 'Buck Privates' (U), 'Philadelphia Story' (M-G) and 'Road to Zanzibar' (Par). Seek 'Bad Man' (M-G) Withdrawal in Mexico Mexico City, Sept 23. Complaint of the Mexican consul in Chicago is thaj 'The Bad Man' (M-G) puts Mexicans In a bad light. Consequently,/the Ministry of the Interior has asked producers to sus- pend exhibition of the picture. Yanks Cue Brazfl On Modernizing, Theatre Building Rio de Janeiro, Sept. 16. Large-scale theatre building opera- tions both In Rio's metropolitan area and in the Interior indicates that Brazil is well on the way to gaining a top position among Latin repub-, lies in the number of modern film houses. Country, largest in size and population, currently ha; about 1,250 theatres compared to 950 in Argen- tina, which has a population of 13,- 000,000 compared to Brazil's 40,000,- 000. Close workings with the U.S., which have kept Brazil's economic status far more steady than tliat of many other South American coun- tries dependent on Europe for the foreign trade that keeps them alive, is cited as. the principal cause for the upturn. In addition, Brazil has become more and more Yank-minded and is demanding more Hollywood films. Among new houses currently in construction are a chain which Ben-' jamin Fineberg, an American for- merly with Metro, is building in and around Sao Paulo, industrial center of Brazil; a string under way by Luis Severno Rebiero, largest exhib in Brazil, and Metro's new outlets in Tijuca and Copacabana. All these houses will run U. S. films only, French, German and British films having been pushed to a minimum. Argentine-mades, which are an in- creasing threat in many parts of South America, are no worry here since Brazil speaks Portuguese and most of the Argentines aren't up to TJ. S. films. Even when they are, the cost of sub-titling is so great that few picts can make the nut RKO, which recently closed its Brazilian convention, cashed in neatly on the upturn of interest in U. S. films when, after preem of 'Fantasia,' which high-lighted the huddle. President (jetulio Vargas re- ceived Walt Disney, Phil Reisman, RKO foreign chief; John Hay WhH- ney, here on Rockefeller Committee biz; Bruno Cheli, Brazilian manager, and Ben Y. Cammack, Argentine chief. Although Whitney and Dis- ney were not in on RKO affairs, company got the publicity benefit. In addition to new building, many older houses here have installed air conditioning and other modern equip- ment. Why No Spending ^Continued from page 3; Argentine Film Stars Talk of FiHining United Artists Setup to Fi^ Pay Cuts British Workers, Exhibs In Upped Wage Accord London, Sept. 9. Labor gained a major victory when deal was signecf between exhibs and National Assn. of Theatrical Em- ployees for a percentage boost to pay envelopes. Agreement covers cine- mas on a national basis. By the new arrangement cinema workers will receive 15% boost on all salaries up to $12 weekly; 12^% on wages over that amount UPPED FILM TAX VS.U.S.SEEN FOR AUSSIE ~ Camberra, Sept. 5. Stepping down of Robert G. Men- zies from Prime Ministership of Australia In fav<)r of the govern- ment's treasurer, A. W. Fadden, is anticipated as promoting some changes in the Aussie fllmdom, ac- cording to industry men with a knowledge of the political setup. Fadden, who heads the Country Party, is linked with the. United Australia Party, and is recognized as a hardboiled mathmatician, one ambition being to secure the coin to keep the country's war effort going, irrespective of who gets financially slapped. With the Labor Party, led by John Curtain, holding an almost equal balance of power in federal Parliament, there's a feeling in polit- ical circles that both believe coin could be gotten from the pic in- dustry to aid further the war setup, especially from companies turning in huge profits, plus those U. S. dis- tribs playing the exhibition end as ■well. Inoreaae to 75% Rumored Sydney, Sept. 5. Unofficial forecast in many quar- ters is that next year, unless the war ends quicker than-figured, there may be an increase from the 62%% coin freeze to 75%, thus bringing this territory in line with New Zea- land on U. S. coin curbs. This month sees the introduction of the 1942 War Budget under Fad- den's direction, and the inside is that the pic industry will have a prominent place in the tax setup. and suburban districts, but an officer of the First Wisconsin ..Na- tional bank, largest of the city's de- positories, asserted that about 25% of total deposits are in savings, which is regarded as a healthy con- dlUon. Hoarding Cash Plenty of money being socked away, however, isn't being deposited according to this official, but is be- ing stowed away in safe deposit vaults, the hoarders wanting all their cash readily accessible in an emergency. Others are cacheing the money in their homes in all sorts of hiding places. 'These people were caught before; they're not going to be caught again,' said the banker. "They have been scared by stories of the enormous taxes the government, is going to collect to further its war effort, and are spending today only for their immediate needs. This undoubtedly U one reason the theatres are not getting the money they might or- dinarily expect; another is that in- dustrial employes are working long hours and overtime, so that they are too tired to go to a show or sit through a double feature.' Unusually large are the Christmas club, Tax Budget funds and other bank sponsored savings plans, while a Jot of money, too, is being placed In defense bonds and stamps, mer- cantile establishments in many cases giving change in stamps, if accept- able to purchasers. Flemming's Son Killed Sydney, Sept. 5. Dennis Claude Flemming, 30, son of Claude Flemming, Australian stage and radio star, has been killed in action in Syria. He was an only son. Oriental Beef ^Continued from page S; the RKO Palace which will permit its interests to be handled by the RKO film firm. Oriental case is looked upon gen- erally as the most important one in the short history of the new arbi- tration setup, and will likely be an influence in the industry nationally. Oriental is seeking an adjustment in clearance, claiming that the pres- ent setup is unfair, unreasonable and arbitrary in that it forces 'this 3,200- seat loop house to follow 19 other houses throughout Chicago, with many of these houses being con- siderably smaller and of less im- portance as far as potential gross is concerned. Oriental, through its at- torney, Robert Farrell, made what is probably the shortest complaint on record, consisting of only two short paragraphs, one making the complaint and the other asking for an adjustment. Balaban 8i Katz theatres lead the list in number of theatres named by the Oriental. Besides the RKO Palace, the others are the Warners, southside Avalon and Capitol and in the loop, the Essaness Woods and the Jones, Linick & Schaefer McVickers. The rest are B. & K*. spots. Buenos Aires, Sept. 16. Faced with an ultimatum from the solid front of .Argentine film pro- ducers that salaries of stars would have to be cut from 30% to 40%, local pic figures are currently talk-' ing organization of an Argentine United Artists, threatening a strike tfnd their own production should de- mands be refused. Ultimatum for cut was delivered by the .Asociacion Productores Peli- culas Argentines as a result of severe drop in boxoflice receipts, especially in the Interior, plus rising costs. Producers of Grade A fea- tures are seeking to lop off approxi- mately 50% from the cost of produc- tion, determined upon a maximum salary figure they would pay top artists in order to eliminate bidding for services. Resentment flared quickly and stars immediately began strike talk, using the threat of forming their own producing organization. Add- ing fire to the controversy were re- ports that Columbia and other U. S. producers were planning to move into local production. Result was feeling by stars that if the Yanquis were coming in, there would be a further bidding for their services and that therefore they should hold out for their original paychecks. Specifically mentioned in the pro- ducers' list, of maximums were Libertad Lamarque, currently high- est salaried star in Argentine, fol- lowed by Pepe Arias, Luis Sandrini, Ninl Marshall and Hugo del Carril. Senorita Lamarque, who has been getting 90,000 pesos per pic (about $22,000 U. S.) would be cut to 50,000 pesos. Del Carrll from 75,000 pesos to 40,000 pesos. News of the maxi- mum list brought action from stars and directors who were also affected. Enrique Muino, Elias Alippi, Fran- cisco Petrone, Angel Magana, Lucas Demare, all top figures in local pro- duction, are reported leading the United Artists Idea. Practically all local producers here are in a bad way. One leading company, currently in reorganiza- tion, has not paid employees for four months and is talking bankruptcy. Local artists have no organization similar to these in the States and the producers' group up to this time has never been extremely active. Press, especially trade papers, are urging some sort of conciliation before situash becomes too serious. BA PICTURE BIZ LAGS; USBON' BEST AT $6,100 Buenos Aires, Sept. 16. Biz generally poor last week with lack of picts with any great appeal for localities held the chief cause, plus the fact that weekend trekking crowds have begun moving out of town now that spring's coming on. 'One Night in Lisbon' (Par) was the best of the crop, raking in 25,000 pesos ($6,100 U.S.) for the opera. Other estiTnates, given in Arpcn- fine pesos, currently uiorth 25c. U.S. (4.15 to the US. dollar), follow: Ambassador (Lautaret and . Ca- valo) (1,400; $2, $1.50)—'Serenata' (French-made; distributed by Al- mar). Fairly good $12,000 primarily due to presence in town of Louis Jouvet, the star. Ideal (Lococo) (1,046; $3, $2.50)— 'Major Barbara' (UA). Considered weak for here because of preponder- ance of dialog; did surprisingly good $17,800. Bex (Cordero, Cavala and Lauta- ret) (3,305; $2-$1.50)—'Dulcy' (M-G), Nosedived to limp $15,000, lowest at this house for some time. Normandie (Lococo) (1,420; $2- $1.50)—'You'll Find Out' (RKO) and 'Vatican' (RKO). Pretty good at $17,000. 'Vatican,' in Spanish, getting a hand from the clergy. Monumental (Coll and DiFiore)— 'El Hermano Jose' ('Brother Joe') (Sono Film, Argentine-made). Best local in some time and running a handsome $15,000, with even better hopes for the nabcs. Opera (Lococo) (2,500; $2-50-$2- $1.50)—'One Night In Lisbon' (Par) and 'Dead Men Tell' (Par). Okay $25,000. Broadway (Lautaret and Cavalo) —'Great Lie' (WB). Still going strong • on second run with $10,000, despite a four-week smash at the Ambassador. Sulpacba (Lococo) (950; $2-$1.50) —'Reaching for Sun' (Par) and 'Power Dive' (Par). Nice $10,500, due for holdover.