Variety (Sep 1942)

^ir^aneBaayrSeptember 9r 1941 UA Now After 4 Par Features, Westerns; Seeb Pix of Others 41- Originally calling for 12 westerna, «lx this year and six next season, plu« possibly one regular feature al- ready In the can, the deal between Paramount and United Artists now includes discussion for the acquisl- tlon by UA.ot four features in ad- dition to the horse operas. As now standing, the transaction would involve around $4,000,000, it )s understood, to cover negative cost plus • proAt to Paramount, Actual closing of the deal hinges on the raising of the money by UA which, It Is thought, will not encounter any •nags in view of the need of product (t this time by UA, whose distribu- tion system, also, is a costly one. Deal is being negotiated on tiia Coast between Grad Sears, vice- president of UA, and Y. Frank Free- man, v.p. in charge of prodction at Par's studio. It is believed near to signing. The four program features to be turned over to UA under the deal would be from among the 23 for 1B42-43 release that have already been completed by Par. Which four films will be chosen from among a group of completed pictures of com- parable value has not yet been de- cided. All of the six westerns, made for Par by Harry Sherman, are also al- ready In the can. Baw Film Angles Likely cut in raw stock avail- ability next season is one of the factors Involved in the Par-UA deal for Par's product. Though the Par films are already completed, negative stock involved la relatively small compared with pcsitive film requirements. Pend- Ine a Aim rationing decree from the war Production Board problem of holding over some topical material to give precedence to morfe im- ?iortant product may also figure in he deal. United Artists, on the other hand, figures it needs a minimum of 25 pictures annually to maintain its exchange and distribution setup. (Continued on page 4S) ABE BLANK'S NEPHEW MISSING IN DIEPPE Des. B^olnes, Sept. 8. Irving Heller, 33, former manager of a theatre at Ft. Dodge, la., and a nephew of A. H. Blank, president of the Trl-States Theatre Corp., has been reported by the Canadian gov- ernment as missing in action in the Commando raid on Dieppe. He en- listed in the Canadian army in 1940. Heller attended Kemper Military Academy for two years and gradu- ated with honors. L^ter he was flraduated from the University of Nebraska. He had won several medals for rifie marksmanship. Heller's wife and three children make their home in Columbus, Neb. 20th Holds Perlberg Hollywood, Sept. 8. WiUiam Perlberg, currently pro- ducing the Jack Benny starrer, ^he Meanest Man In the World,' signed a new producer contract with 20th- Fox. Lined up for his production pro- gram are 'Army Wife,' The Song of Bernadette,' .'In Old Coney Island,' 'Jean Valjean' and 'Police Gazette.' LYONS' UA PIX PLANS SOUND IMPRESSIVE At request of banks and talent in- volved, Arthur S. Lyons is stepping into picture production in a general supervisory capacity as head of one or both ot the new film production groups for which he was lining up additional financing (Bankers Trust) in New York last week. In addition to the Jack Benny unit, Lyons has Eugene O'Neill, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern and Rouben Mamoullan, eaph of whom will function in a separate production company, making one picture annually for United Artists release. These four companies will constitute one group. "There is si possibility that Lyons may also form another unit with Casey Robinson, though latter Is still under contract to Warners, or some equally promi- nent scenarist. In addition to salary guarantee, all Lyons' talent used in production will be in on a profit-sharing basis. Lyons' production plans were made possible because most of the agent's talent is in studios on short term contracts. In addition to Dorothy Lamour, Hedy Lamarr, Ida Lupino, Ilona Massey and Allan Jones, Lyons stated last week that he also held part of the Fred MacMurray con- tract. Talent working through the Lyons agency will be pooled with other Uoited AtUsU.producers when needed. Ida Lupino was last week named as the probable lead for an original yarn being written by O'Neill who, incidentally, has nine plays com- (Continued on page 47) Sko^ras' Schedule Spyros Skouras. 20th-Fox prexy, goes to Atlanta for a week following current studio conferences on the Coast. He is then scheduled to return to the New York homeofflce around Sept, 14. Curtail Running Time of Theatres? Solution to Raw Film May Lie in Shorter Hours or Shorter Programs , Conviction continued to grow In the trade last week that some method of curtailing running time per thea- tre may become necessary in order to conserve raw film stock. War Pro- duction Board officials have already stated that it should not be expected that all theatres could be kept open for the duration, .but whether all theatres would be shuttered one day weekly, as in the last war^ limit op- erating hours to nine hours daily, or pool operations in some territories via darkening of some houses, are problems still in the early stages. Opinion in the trade is that, in event of acute shortages of celluloid, manpower, electric power, fuel, the shuttering of cinemas one day weekly would be the most impartial way of handling the situation. With regard to raw stock, this would auto- matically bring about a saving of more than 14% of total positive film. If the length ot screen running time is reduced by simply ordering theatres to operate only nine hours daily instead of 10 to 14, exhibitors are certain to squawk loudly, be- cause it would cut deeply into reve- nues and keep thousands from at- tending shows. Should screen run- ning time be trimmed by reduction of programs from three to four hours to two and one-half hours, producer- distributors depending on double features would be seriously aftcctcd. EXHIBS AIMl FOR PRICE CURB Feared Such a Move la Possibility in Wartime but Distribs Warn This Would Bring on Other Federal Regulation in the InduS' trjr—^Point to Adjustments Now Being Made DISTRIB OPPOSISH Muffled rumbles of late about ways and means of curbing the distribu- tors from exacting higher prices for pictures are threatening to develop into thunder on a scattered front and, feared by informed distributor sources, that with the coiuitry at war the danger of a rentals celling Is real. However, while issuing a warning to exhibitors that they may be bring- ing the walls of the temple down on their heads by trying to engineer a rental ceiling, the distributors, it Is promised, are prepared to wage a bitter war against' such regulation. Among other things, the distribu- tors decry the foolhardiness of any exhibitor action seeking the estab- lishment of a ceiling on film prices because that would, in their opinion, be the opening wedge for Federal regulation ot the industry; would not stop there, but extend to other meas- ures hamstringing the business of op- erating theatres. During the past week the Greater Cincinnati Exhibitors Assn., at a meeting there, mapped plans which carry an unqualified threat to go to (Continued on page 44) SCHENCK OUT AFTER4M0S. 5 DAYS The .release , of Joseph M.. Schencjc, former 20th-Fox chairman of the board, from the Federal Prison at Danbury, Conn., clipped his year and a day sentence received last year for income tax evasion to four months and five days. He left the penitentiary Monday (7) night and was met by C. C. Moskowitz and Nicholas M. Schenck, Loew's, Inc. v.p. and prexy. Originally sentenced to three years, Schenck's punishment had been curtailed because of his aid in the conviction of Willie BiofT and George E. Browne who had been charged with extortion of $1,000,000 from the major picture companies through illegal use of powers as labor leaders. The three-year sen- tence was suspended last May and he was held on his plea of guilty only to the perjury charge. Joseph H. Moskowitz, now serving a similar term for income tax falsifi- cation may follow Schenck to free- dom shortly via parole. MAJOR SAM BRISKIN JOINS COL CAPRA Hollywood, Sept. 8. Sam Briskin, chief of production a: Columbia, pas.sed up his studio job for the duration and entered thp Signal Corps as a major. Un- derstood he will be stationed here as a member ot Lieut. Col. Frank Capra's unit. Sidney Buchman, who recently resigned as president of the Screen Writers Guild, assumes part ot Briskin's duties, sharing production supervision with Harry Cohn. 20th-Fox FoHo^ AeKew Orbit Of Theatre Men Influencing Film Studio Operations More and More Freeze Rentals Cincinnati, Sept 8. In an attempt to freeze film rentals at the . 1941-42 scale, the Indignant Exhibitors Forum, at its fourth weekly meeting Sept. 2, approved appointment of a committee to contact the anti- trust division of the Attorney- General's office in Washington for ceiling fixing. Committee includes Willis Vance, chairman, Maurice Chase and Harold Bern- stein. Forum's members operate 4) nabes in Greater Cincy. Most ot them belong to the Greater Cin- cinnati Motion Picture Exhibi- tors League, which went on record as favoring the price freeze. GOVT ENLISTS SALVAGE U. 3. Government has called on show business to take a national sal- vage campaign, scheduled to start around Oct. 15, under its wing. . Picture houses, legit theatres, film exchanges and all other branches of the industry will use stage and screen, combined with other ex- ploitation, to get the public to dig up all possible scrap metal, rubber, copper, steel, fats, etc., to be turned -over to the authorities. Canada's Large Tabu List Ottawa, Sept. 8. Government regulations ban the use of metals, except gold and silver, for manufacturing several hundred articles after Sept. 30, including the following: . bleachers, grandstands, bowling alleys, pins, accessories; doughnut cookers, exhibition and eluding ugnliBg^tfqiBpmflS? stands; floats for pageants, parades, advertising (except trucks); games and gambling devices, magic lanterns, rolling boardwalk chairs, scenery and stage hardware and equipment (ex- cept lamp bulbs), including battens, cables, lights, reflectors,'drops; skat- ing rink equipment, stadiums, tent poles and parts, all types of vending machines, motion picture projection equipment, musical instruments and metal reflectors. Film production policy at four ot the major studios is now largely dictated by executives with theatre operating backgrounds, 20th-Fox be- coming the fourth ot the majors in this category. This is due to the closer participation in studio output and the greater responsibility which falls to Spyros Skouras, as result of Col. Darryl Zanuck leaving the com- pany for the duration. Though Bill Goetz remains in charge of studio operations, iinderstanding is that the former National Theatres head will be more -closely identified with broader phases of production, to some extent absorbing the duties formerly carried out by Zanuck. Skouras has been working on pro- duction and distribution charts for several months past, obviously In preparation for Zanuck's fulltime soldiering. Goetz, who has been the main cog in the 20th production wheel since Pearl Harbor, while Zanuck spent most of his time in Government service, will retain full studio opera- tion powers under Skouras instead ot Zanuck. Other majors, where former ex- hibition experience has fitted execs for key positions determining pro- duction, are Paramount, RKO and Universal. Case of U and Par Both Universal and previously Paramount studios experienced a sudden upsurge in production of big grossers which coincided with or shortly followed the entry ot execs with exhibition - distribution back- grounds. In case of Universal, Nate Blumberg, CliA' Work, Milt Feld and Johnny O'Connor formed an operat- ing quartet which pulled the studio out of a rut. Earlier a terrific change tor the better in Paramount prqduct was noted following advent of Y. Frank Freeman, with Buddy de ^Iva as executive producer in charge of *A' product. And Charles Koerner is being given a chance to show what theatre operating experience can accomplish for RKO. Without being able to define spe- cifically the -Tiethods employed by former theatre operators in film pro- ^^■^ the type ot entertainment which can best be sold or which the public will most readily accept, acquired from close contact with theatregoers over an extended period ot time, is the major Infiuence being brought to bear on studio output by theatre men. Opinion is expressed that some stu- dio producers somehow lose contact with the mass public, and wind up in the red before they realize what happened. Zanuck Farewells His Co-Workers Skouras, Connors, Goetz Present—Latter Will Head Studio Operations Hollywood, Sept. 8. As his last official act in his ca- pacity as production chief at 20th- Fox, Col. Darryl Zanuck spoke to executives and sales personnel Mon- day (7) at the two-day regional meet. Flanked by Spyros Skouras and William Goetz, new studio op- erating head, Zanuck bade farewell to his co-workers before leaving for full time duty in his capacity as an Army colonel. Zanuck expressed full confidence that his work at the studio would be carried on with the same high "re- gard for quality production. Tom Connors, 20th sales head, who pre- sided, had the delegates pause in one minute silent tribute in respect to the memory of Sidney R. Kent. Hal Horne, eastern advertising and publicity director, told the gathering that the company's product would be backed up with the biggest ad- vertising budget in its history. An- nouncement that Goetz would take over studio operations carni: follow- ing a conference Sunday (6) at the studio when Skouras, Zanuck and Goetz met. Zanuck's position as vice-president in charge of production will not b« filled during his absence on duty with the Signal Corps. Goetz oper- ated the studio during Zanuck's pre- vious absence on military missions and will be surrounded by the sam* personnel that worked with Zanuck. Jack Warner Also The grapevine has it that Lieut, Col. Jack Warner will go on full time duty with the Army Air Fore* in a couple of weeks.