Variety (May 1942)

20 picnniEs Wednesday, May 27, 1942 Realistic War Stories Now Stymied By Curbs on Military Eqinpent A crop of topnotch adventure fic- tion, based on the war of a type hithly desirable for film material, is beginning to sprout in the na- tional mags. But producers are looking at the exciting yams with their V>i>eues hanging out—and not ■buying. They're fearful that they •won't be able to get the specialized miUtary equipment needed to film them. One ^uch story is running as a serial in the Satevepost now and another in Collier's. Fkst is 'Gaunt Woman' by Kdmund Gilligan. It's about fishing schooners fighting Nazi submarines off of Newfoundland, with the hero a Gloucester fisher- man. 'Gaunt Woman' is the name of his schooner. Collier's yarn Is "Flight to the Sun' by James Aldrich, 23-year- old Australian now in North Africa as correspondent for Time mag and North American Newspaper Alli- ance. His story is of the RAF In the Greek and.Crete campaign. His style is said by story editors to bear resemblances to that of Ernest Hem- ingway. Difficulty with 'Gaunt Woman' first is finding a place to film it, since location trips to sea are no longer possible, of course. If that perhaps could be solved by use of a studio tank and trick photography, there's the problem of obtaining a usable replica of a U-boat 'Flight to the Sun' is even tougher, because it requires a great number of planes of specific types, British, German and .Italian. It also calls for hundreds of gliders being towed through the air and cut loose to land in Crete with Nazi soldiers. . It had been hoped that perhaps the British Ministry of. Irifomatipn could supply some of- this footage from actual camera work- oh the scene. Sic^ney L. Bernstein, of ,the MOI film division, w£'o arrived in New York last week, s4id, however, that virtually no pictures of the Gi;eelc campaign were inade. . MOI has millions of feet, though, of other subjects and It is available to HoUy:- wood, Bernstein declared:. This may solve $ome problems :ori future - sto- ries; . > Despite th6 tJifficuHies, It -I^ jjpt- thought impossible that Holfywood; lnge))fuity will prevail . and-vstories.' such as these might be 'roade:''.'With that'hope, price'of $2iSi()(H) hjis been set by agent Carl Brandt on 'Gaunt Woman.' It 'will be published By. Scribners in book form after serial-' Ization. 'Flight to the Sun' will be published in August . by ' tittle,. Brown under the title 'Signed With Their Honor.' Studios are doubly aiudou? io get yarns of this type because-,.of "the lack during thfe current' S^asQii .>pf story material usable for films In b.ooks, mags and legit 4»- CoBiert Aifing, Pic Waits Hollywood, May 26. Start on "No Time for Love,' origi- nally «lat«d this week at Paramount, has bean pushed back to June 1 by the Illness of Claudette Colbert, as- signed to the top femme role Actress has been laid up with pleurisy, with a nurse in constant attendance, since her return from the tour of the Victory Caravan. Strombo^ Pays 60G for 'Guest'; Other Story Buys I Army-Navy Relief Continued from n»r« g —^-— the effect that Army-Navy relief col- lections were falling--behrnd the Dimes campaign in city theatres but were ahead in subturban and ruial areas. At the same time ■ the cain- palgn, originally scheduled to end May 20 was set for four days more. In stating that the campaign will top Dimes, Brandt pointed out that 8,t)00 more theatres participated in the Army-Navy drive, with returns therefore likely to be proportion- stely greater than In the former, Hunt Strouberg last -week pur- chased screen rights to 'Guest in the House,' Broadway legiter, for a mini- mum price of $60,000. Deal calls for $25,000 down, plus 4% of Stromberg's share of the film's ^oss, with a minimum of $35,000 -guaranteed as this percentage. 'Guest' Is the first story property acquired by Stromberg since he left Metro and joined United Artists a couple months ago. He has been negotiating for ■ number of plays and books without success. 'Guest,' which bears a resemblance to The Children's Hour' In that a very mean yong lady Is the protagonist, is cur- rently hi its. 13th week at the Ply- mouth, N. Y;, and a mild hit. It was -written by Hagar Wilde and Dale Bunson and Is being presented by Paul aiid Stephen Ames. interest developed by .Stromberg in "Best Foot 'Forward' has helped to kick over a deal .-which' was .Vir- tually. »et for the George Abbott musical to g<^ to Lester Cowan for Columbia release. -Ifs understood that an agreeriient had been virtually rerthed for Cowan to* get Torward' at.$100,000.plus a .percentage -when Strombe^g^ and Metro both Indicated i -deiiri to "get It.! WKole thing, is now In procMs ' of'qegotlatipn again ■ "Uncje Harry,' meller by Thomas Job,, which opened^ at the firoad- liurst last ■jvcel£^ Appears to lie cer- tain to be. bojoght f6f.,fllma.with lit- tle/ iklay-. when It has played the three-wiMi / minimum .petiod re-, quired un<}a' the Dramatists Guild Basic AfTeemcnt Flay, with Joseph S(d4ldkraut '<nd ]Bva LeGallienne starred, has all'i.fllm companies' In- tei'ested,, filthouj^ it is believed cer- tain changes wUl .be made necessary Under the Hays OOic^ code. It con- cerns a- perifect crime and, according, to the Haysites, ■ there can no such (falngs. Someone must be caught and punished.. Prddvicers 'Releasing Corp. has purchased an orl^nal by Jimmy Starr, ' Hollywood columnist. It's labeled 'A Beauliful^ight'for Lover" Gl6nda Farrell will be starred; with production to start in early June. I«ester Cutler is producer. $60,0M In D. O. Washington, May 25c The Army-Navy relief collections In this area , will approach $50,000, with the lour-day eirtensioh ordered by Nicholas Schenck and accepted by local theatre managers. This is approximately 33% more than real- ized in the last theatre collection here for March of Dimes. In the neighborhood's, the count up of. the baskets generally reached 15% of the theatre's box office gross. The widespread appeal of the. relief goal was indicated by the" accumu- lation of 40,000 pennies,'. Indicating that Government workers in. the lower J>rackets. wanted to give some- thing. Average contribution in do-wntown, first nms, was ISc, in the neighborhoods a dime. N2(ti^nal theatre, only legitimate hou^-'in.Wiasbi^fton, grossed $2,200 Don't Distort U.S. Continued from pace ^ Par's I>r^ WmwcU Plo Hollywood, May 28. Paramount -will film the' story of Dr. Croydon. Vossell, whose heroics in evacuating'nine, wounded soldiers from J'ava, were, brought to "focus in a recent radio talk by President Roosevelt Y. Frank Freeman; studio head, has concluded arrangements with Navy Secretary Frank Knox wfineby a percentage of the pic- tures' gross goes to Na-vy relief. C, B. DeMiUe -will produce. Metro and Columbia both had filed intention with the Producers Asso- ciation to make such a picture, but Paramount worked fast via long dis- tance phone to Washington and clinched an official okay. Paramount purchased *A Tank Cialled John,' tale of the home de- fense corps, by Maurice Clark. ^ank Gruber sold his pioneer yam, 'Peace Marshal,' to Paramount 20th-Fox bought "Birthday,' pre- war European play by L. Vus-Fekete. Louis Arthur Cunningham sold his novel. The Princess of Graven,' to 20th-rox. Columbia . .bpught 'Adventure #tl?i*eh'6B'i»?eiff7''C----..v: nationals abroad have been mildly squawking about It for years. But It has taken on new and overwhelm- ing importance at the moment so far as the two English-speaking nations are concerned because permanent world peaie may hang in the bal- ance. Films, it is recognized, can play a tremendous role in creating greater understanding between peo- ples. And greater understanding betweeft the U. S. and England is sought as the solid cornerstone on which a perfect alliance of the two nations can be built In that post- war aUiance—with Hitler, Hirohito and Mussolini defeated—will lie the balance of world power, a balance that, properly used, can insure peace for years to come. Thus it is, with the stakes so large, that subtle but tremendous pressure is to be brought on Holly- wood by the newer and liberal- minded officials of U. S. and Britain to play Mr. Average American straight Steps will be taken in the next month to acquaint Hollywood with its role. Nature of these steps cannot be revealed as yet. Statement of the >case is- pretty well made in The Outpost a London newsletter published by and for Americans in England. An unsigned article in a recent issue declared In part: BIciest Partnership - 'Great Britain and the United States have entered into a partner- ship -which may develop into the biggest thing —e have, seen for some time.' Many believe that a coalition between the two countries would mean world peace and,' with the dovetailing of our resources, insure prosperity; in fact, bring us near .the world that men have dreamed of-for centuries.. .With so ^much at stake, it is dangerous to leave our two countries in ignorance of each other, as they are. The United .States not only- does not seem to make herself known to the British people, but even seems to throw out. a smoke screen. 'In contrast to the dearth of real Information, there are the hundreds and htmdreds of films released every year which penetrate into the most remote comers of the British Isles. For' the few thou°5and' Britisli' who- know-something about us, there are millions whose only experience of us would be the..Marx .brpthersi..the glamor girls or Donald Duck.;,We Icfok on ourselves as -'hard-working people . arid, homelovfi^^ to British ^eyes we'.are a bi[;arre spectacle, on a huge scale, in glo^iqus technicolor. Especially durin£' these last two years against- the backgrpundl; of darkened Europe. "British views of. .u»;. among "the people ..who .do not know us well, fall roU'glOy 'into 'ioiu^ groups; ' Faur Groaps 'Group I, the hopelesdy v^igue; apt to ask you if you knofr an American girl' they, once met from the South. On riiiining through the states, yoii finally trace the lady to Brazil,... 'Group n, the intelligent but ^liter- al-minded movie-goers. These firmly believe that every- city is alive witlx gangsters, that -the Citizens talk like- DamOn ' Runyon ' and' chfi't^ gum. They judge our homelife by the Hardy family and ' the hectic romances^of Myrna and William. My gardener remarked'to me, with great tact that he supposed Americans were like other people underneath and no doubt I had never seen any street fighting;. ^is'^Oup is dying out, but harder to - convince. Nylon and 'Lvolte '.'Group ni, the youixg and san- guine, who see in America a Well- sian New World entirefy-constructed of nylon and lucite. Hiey see the American housewife, in her air-con- ditioned apartment', 60 storit^s above the street. To the strains of a swing band that pours into the kitchen from a. super-radio, she pulls a knob here ^d there as her automatic streamlined washing machine washes, 'wrings and irons the clothes Of course, the typical American family has at least one high-powered car, encrusted with chromium, that travels with the speed and smooth' ness of a rocket. Much more serious are the Ideas of 'Group IV. These are older people usually, who have read a. certain amount about us. Coming across names like Zechella and Mosh'ofsky, they wonder why we dp not .have trouble with the 'foreign el^ent' How can one explain that people with foreign sounding names may be some of our statmchest Americans. . "These are some of the Impressions of. .us I have *pUfcted,, 13ie BrW<4i htnm b<<'en''iin»fliheTy' tOleHnt- iVen lATSE Exec Forces Already In Columbus to Support Prexy Walsh -tf' Now, Tiiat's like a Pal Hollywood, May 26. Screen Ckrtoonists Guild signed a new agreement -with George Pal Pro- ductions calling for Improved work- ing conditions and a 25% lift in minimum wages. Similar agreements under nego- tiation with Leon Schlesimger, Walter Lantz and Screen Gems, Inc., are being held ut> pending the re- turn of Pat Casey and William Hop- kins from Washington. RKOs 1941 Net Reaches $53S,692; '42 Quarter, 439G Annual report of Radio-Keith-Or- pheum and subslds shows an im- provement of $1,526,883 In earnings over IMO. Net profits for 1941 to- taled $538,602, as compared with a net -loss (on consolidated basis) of $988,101 for 1940. RK0 theatre busi- ness showed a net profit of $1,148,205, as against $803,953 profit for . 1940. Report showed, however, that oper- ations of RKO-Radip Pictures--<the picture 'company and its Canadian subsidiary) resulted, in. a net loss of $594,271 for year. dompany yesterday (Tuesday) re- ported $439^268 net profit for the first 13 weeks ended April 4 this year as against - $643,926 in comparable 1941 quarter. Gross revenue, was $1,174,931 as compared with $1,265,- 933 in the first 13 weeks of 1941. Corporation's pro'vlsion for Federal Incoine taxes rose nearly $200,000 to $rtlv785. RKO diclar^ only. $13,114 In dividends oli- the'-preferred-.Of a subsid during- the . first 1042 quarter -which was $60,000 less .than in 1941. Portion of the 1941 -loss, shown by picture company , is atti;ibuted to a further increase of $530,000 during the past year because principally of restrictions upon the wfUidrawal of cash fi'om foreign' territories.. Com- pany reServ/oi $1,000,000 for such cont&igenicies-in.ljHO; ' ; 'WhUe 1941 report "shows net los^ of $106,08^ in '.the- final quarter of d941, this r.ei)resents ah' improvement t4 around-'$it400',000 over the last i#il0 Quarter . when the company's net loss "was'$M26,8e3; ' RKO -erosst in -1941 from all sources -was^B3d50,725, or-nearly $1,000,000 less than in 194p; when $54,211,909 "was reported. Corporation reported amo.rtlzatlon «f fllni costs and ex- perises.'as $12,414,757, which was bet- ter thw the $17^496,563 for the same items in 1940. Royalties and par- ticipations rose nearly $3,000,000 to $10,381,705 in. 1941, while other oper- ating and general expenses increased nearly $1,000,000 to $27,128,544. Pro- vision for income taxes increased around $174,000 to $455,602. . REO ANinJAI EABmOS 1940-41 -Net profit, except as noted. 1930 $3,385,628 1931..... tt 5,660,771 1932 .' }tl0,695,503 1933 tt 4,3^,064 1934 tt.,310,575 1935 t 684,733 1936 } 2,485,911 1937 X 1,621,166 1938 t 18,605 1939 ;.. tt 186,405 1940 t 988,191 First Second Third Fourth Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter $538,088 t$314,620 $07,567 $1,526,883 1941 $538,092 , First " Second 'Third Fourth Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter $643,926 t$158,321 $139,169 t$106,082 t Deficit i Before .provision for subsidiary corporation preferred dividend. when they have not imderstood our viewpoints. But now, when there is so much good will on both sides, is the time to lay a sounder foundation for . coUabgratlon 1q the difficult. jtrobUins ° Jthat- ;iriU ivHt' ua in - the futurfc,' '-' - ■ ^ - Executive forces oi; the Interna- tional Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees are already in Columbus laying the groundwork for a strong defense front against elements in the lA seeking to supplant not only Richard F. Walsh, president, but others on the exec'board through a forced election. Among those now in Columbus at- tending pre-conventlon sessions is Louis Krouse, secretary-treasurer, who is said to have quietly made an extensive tour of locals with a view to lining up oppositiop against an election. He is not known to have .gone as far as the Coast, but re- ported that among the studio locals there exists a very strong deter- mination to vote in a new regime in the lA, If at all possible. 'Vincent Jacobi, first to come out officially as a candidate for the presidency on an election at the con- vention 'starting -Monday (1), has been followed by the announced can- didacy of. .WlUiahrBennett, business represen^tive of Lpcal 22, Washing- ton stagehands. . Jacobi holds the Same'post with No. l, N.Y. stage- hands. In a letter he sent out, Be.nnett says t^ie followlfag, in .part: . 'It seems to be the consensus of opinion of members "of the Alliance that I have .come in contact with and those; that have -written me' that there - shoulcl be an election of of- ficers In Columbus.' ' '. Bennett is^'said:'to have bad much -fa'irorable response'to'^liis-candidacy Irom lA lopals, . while understood also that Coast studio tmions have been writing him urging an election. Reported Bennett is not interested only in voting in a new lA presi- dent, but also in providing an entire new executive board or at least-sup- planting those on the board who formerly supported George E. Browne or his policies. While Ben- nett is running for the presidency, it may be that he would wind up in one of the other executi've lA posts on any election going down the line. Jacobi is believed to have a stronger chance of getting the top spot if Walsh does not succeed in .averting an election. Pointed out, however, that there is nothing to stop Walsh from run- ping for the presidency himself. He is entitled to that, if he chooses, as are the vice-presidents and other of- ficers of the lA, the local campaign- ing being for a demand simply that an election be held this year rather than in June, 1944. Jacobi leaves for Columbus to- morrow (Thurs.), as does the dele- gation of Local 308, Moving Pic- ture Machine Operators of N.Y., a very powerful unit in the lA. It is regarded as virtually certain that the 306 delegation will support Jacobi. Latter has added power through be- ing president of the Combined Theatrical Amusement Crafts, repre- senting 31 New York locals. All are not affUiated with the lA, however. Coast for Walsh HoUywood, May 26. Majority of 40 delegates from here to the lATSE convention hi Colum- bus June 1 are on record as opposing any move tq oust Richard Walsh as prexy. Latter is serving out the un- expired term of George E. Browne. Eastern groups are said to have the support of Chicago leaders in a campaign to unseat Walsh. SOPEG Acts for RKO, Too RKO homeoffice employees desig- nated the Screen Office & Profes- sional Employees Guild, CIO, as their collective bargaining agent in a National Labor Relations Board elecUon Friday (22). Vote was 194 to 46. SOPEG, first CIO affiliate to ,win a foothold in the motion picture in- dustry, now officially represents about 1,500'white collar workers in homeofllces, having previously won elections at Loow's-Metro, C» lumbla, 20th-Fox and Fox Moyletonews. Election at-National Screen Serv- ice, involving, 250 - employees, is pending. Contract* negotiations are now goIng'>on ^\ Loew's, Col and 20th. • ' ■• TITLE CHANGES Hollywood, May 26. 'Sabotage Squad' is release title on 'Fingers' at Columbia. 'Say .It With Music'is new tag on •Bifoaclwar Coes .to (ioUege* at Re- public-