Variety (Dec 1942)

Wedneflday» December 28, 1942 MISGEUAMT ' » —♦ INVITATIONS TO CENSOR Show business must again watch its step. The shghtest lapse of decorum or deportment and the hatchet men and women with the bluenoses start sharpening their axes. Just gi\c them a parlay of one 'Wine, Women and Song' conviction—an abortive theatrical attempt whicli any right- minded showman is ashamed of—and a little publicity about strong words in present-day, wartime films (Noel Coward's 'In Which We Serve' and March of Time's 'Here Come the Marines') and that becomes a casus belli for the road company Conistocks and Sumners. Not forgetting the radio comedians' recent tendencies to get flip. As a story from Washington in this issue indicates, Capitol Hill is already agog that a bluenose offensive will be essayed if there are any attempts to weaken the self-regulatory produc- tion code of the motion picture industry. Quite rightly, as is also reported in these columns, the right-thinking executives of the Motion Picture Producers & Distributors of America, Inc.. decided that a wartime realism or not, there was no excuse for hells, damns, bastards or indictments of the Italiims even though author Coward may feel that way publicly and the Brit- ish public may endorse him privately. Sound show business doesn't need uii-sapolioed language or misbehaviorism on screen or rostrum for boxofficc or any other impact. Invariably it's a coiiicssion of weakness in the basic merits, b. o. and otherwise, which compel such strong theatrical license. There are exceptions to every premise, however, and when they are made-they arc invariably good: to wit, 'What Price Glory?' But that brings us to something else again. That is the lib- eralism of the last two remaining frontiers of a liberal art ex- pression—the stage and the printed word. Pornography, ut- tered, shadowed or printed, is unpardonable. But so is a \yan- ton hamstringing of such highly intelligent and specialized media as a play or a book. A relatively pure, mass-attended cinema is understandable: and. of course, that goes too for the radio, which knows not on whose ears may fall this or that form of utterance. However, it's a far cry from Minsky to Laurence Stallings. and for that matter, Noel Coward, rurthcrmore, as regards Coward's 'In Which We Serve." when it's apparent that the vivid war message loses nothing by the scissoring of the few naughty words, why woo needless trouble from professional trouble-makers. Sound American judgment, however, should not permit itself to become blinded or biased just because professional blue- nosers start pecking away. One dirty burlcsk show or a few cuss-words—which, after'all, have l)ecome virtually accepted as parlor conversation in this day and age—are not sufficient reasons for a general censorship drive on show business. If Maney Wasn't So Honest. This Would Read Like a Press Stunt mm SAYS U.S. IS REMISS 'Berlin Diary' Author and CBS Commentator Gives N. Y. Publicity Club Some Lowdown on How We Have Been Remiss in Un- derestimating Germany L A. IS% Off Due to Gas Rationing But No. Calif. Holds Up; Niteries Affected Even More Than Cinemas NEED MORE UNITY By MORI KRUSHF.N William L. Shirer explained to members of the Publicity Club of New York last Thursday (17) why the United Nations have not been waging a good propaganda war and linked our early military failures and propaganda-wise stupidity to a failure to understand Germany nnd what it was up to. Shirer said that before U. N. propaganda aimed at Germany and Italy can become elTec- tive, a clear understanding of those countries must first be reached and a specific Government policy form' ulated. For the present there appeared to be too much contusion among ihe United Nations—with apparently conflicting opinions regarding I'afTaire (Continued on page 13) By JACK PVLASKI The Skin of Our Teeth,' Plym- outh, N. Y., the Thornton Wilder play which has steamed up more audience and critical controversy than any drama in years, was doused In publicity last week to the keen satisfaction of the management and the show's press agent. It had been faintly surmised that maybe William Saroyan had inspired Wilder into writing the screwball Teeth," then along came two scholarly fellows who say Wilder copped the play from the late, erratic James Joyce's 'Finnegan's Wake.' They allege that Teeth' contains Important plot elements, characters, devices of presentation, as well os major themes of 'Wake,' and many of the speeches are directly and frank- ly Imitated with but the flimsiest veneer to lend an American touch to the original features.' The curi- ous angle to the incident- Is that very tew people except Henry Morton Robinson, editor of Reader's Digest, and Joseph Campbell of Sarah Law- rence College^ who made the accu- sations in thi- Saturday Re view of Litfirature, ever claimed to under- stand the Joyce book. [The presumption is, too. thai (Continued on page 54) Orson's Playroom Ho lywood, Dec. 22. Orson Welles, once a youthful prodigy, will be welcomed ap- propriately when he checks in at 20th-Fox for his co-starring hole with Joan Fontaine in 'Jane Eyre.' He draws the deluxe dressing room bungalow built for Shir- ley Temple. Helen Hayes Shying Clear of Radio Work Helen Hayes is concentrating on her still untitled play based on the life of Harriet Beecher Stowe, which, so far, has only Rhys Wil- liams as the male lead. She will do no radio commercial series this year, save for an occasional guest shot, as with the Reader's Digest show this past Sunda.v, finding that both a play and radio series tax her ener- gies loo much. Miss Hayes plans an extended road tour in the Stowe play before coming to Broadway next March. Par and WB Not Going Heavy On B way Backing Paramount and Warners produc- tion departments continue aloof to wholesale purchases of plays for picture purposes and flnancing of legit production despite 20th-Fox tc- tivity in this field. Metro, like 20th, has been showing keen interest in legit properties but approach has been cautious and limited to impor- tant properties which run no risk of topical themes which might become dated prior to release. Metro money is in 'Willow and I.' while the same ] studio is also interested in buying The Pirate.' as are Warners, Par- amount and 20th. Paramount and Warners are lean- ing more towards book and magazine story buys and are inclined to gam- ble with writers rather than plunge too heavily In buying or backing plays for the time being. RKO studio, which has shown marked improvement since Charles W. Koerner took over, has also been limited to book and magazine buys though, in this case, the coin factor (Continued on page 13) Washington Officials and Other Film Biz Notables Review the Industry*! Contributions to *Show Business At War* Among Other Features of the 37th Anniversary Number of here'showtwo b™tessaw LONDON Abe Lastfogel, prez of USO-Camp Shows, and Mark Hanna, agent now in OWI service, both returned last week' on the Pan-American Clipper from London. Both spent about the same coincidental period of time in the British capital although on sep- arate missions. Findings of two Broadwayites in London are cap-, suled. * 1—Food and service are expected to be bad, but the tonier places, usually operated by ex-Italians and French (presumbably naturalized (Continued on page SO) KOBER WOULD LKE TO DOUBLE INTO OWI MCA'SJUROW SCOUTING WARNER TALENT EAST Martin Jurow, Music Corp. of America legit and talent booker, on Jan. 1 becomes New York talent scout for Warner Bros. He will report directly from the East to Jack L. Warner and Steve Trilling at the studio. Jurow will not be replaced at MCA where Edith Van Clevc continues as head of legil casting. MCA execs gave Jurow a farewell luncheon yesterday tTues.). PA£ PACTS 2 WRITERS Murray Burnett and Joan Alison, who wrote 'Everybody Comes to Ricks.' which was made into a War- ner Bros. 'C;isablanca.' have been PKCtcd by Paramount as a wrilinii team. They report to the Coast on new contract Jan. 4. Arthur Kober, back east from a 20th-Fox writing stint for 'Quota Girl,' forthcoming Sonja Henie item, which is slated for February pro- duction start, is trying to work out an Office of War Information con- nection. He wants only to devote six months of his time to Hollywood. The studio has called him back al- ready on a nine-month deal, but his agent, Nat Goldstone, is trying to adjust that. Kober, erstwhile Broadway p.a. turned playwright, comments on the unique Hollywood change of attitude as regards the $25,000 celling. The general reaction \6 that 'the edict is un-Americaiv; 1^ stifles ambition: and I don't mind giving up to the Gov- ernment, but, why work for benefit of the company or its stockholders exclusively, if my net income is held down to 25G or $67,200 gross?" Kober reports a feeling just can'^•hap • «nd that . of the law mu>' -arpen Ir, J. Los Angeles, Dec. 22. As cars go, so goes Los Angeles— or better—Hollywood's first-run film theatre grosses. It lakes autos to get around Hollywood, and just how few are taking them is by now strongly—and sadly—indicated in takings at the t>oulevard boxoffices. Check finds them about 25% otr normal. As anticipated, weekends mean life or death. So far," they have meant life to theatres that have anything to sell. If theatres have it they come —though confined to weekends—and if they do not It makes for sickening grosses, particularly in Hollywood. Hewever, all beleive it is only the momentary story and no final pic- ture is being seen before the first of the year when schools reopen. Xmas is again 365 days away, psy- chological reactions are adjusted, shoppers become time-choppers and newly-created first runs are properly gauged. Dislocation in Hollywood is evi- denced in second week's dropping nearly 50% from figures of first weeks, while downtown houses take nearer normal decline of from 20 to 30% on holdovers. Poor pictures also take more beating in Hollywood than they do downtown. But for all the inroads, current business is every bit as good as last (Continued on page 12) TOLLIES' SHOWGIRLS AT{100-$250AWEEK 'Ziegfeld Follies,' now In rehearsal, will be long on lookers in the show- girl contingent. Around 15 Powers models have been engaged, girls to receive much over the scale for chor- ines. Understood that one model is under contract at $250 weekly, with varying amounts for others, none, re- portedly, less than $100. The show- girl lineup is similar to that of the late Flo Ziegfeld, who 'glorified' 'em and paid similar salaries. 'Follies' is being readied by l,(;e Shubert and Harry Kaufman, way theatre has not yet been Indi- cated. Trarto Mark Reiilmorcd P-OUNDEU Br SI.ME SlI.VBnMAN PobllnliMl \rMklr b7 VABIBTT. Im. Sid Rllverman. PresMrnt. iri4 WpHl 4i;th Street. New York. N T eUBSCRIFTION Anniml tlO PorelKn . ..$11 Sincle Coptes 26 Cente Vol. 149 IM No. 2 yitivry f'hrlntmaH LOCAL PEST MAKES uOOD Donald Duck Mfmlc Stops Botherln; Fans, Now Ballys Out Front Trenton, Dec. 22. A kid started working today in the RKO Capitol lobby. Inside is 'Der Fuehrer's Face.' The picture ties up with the kid. It took the house manager three weeks to find the youngster. Three Sunday afternoons in a row the urchin has been annoying balcony tenants with imitations of Donald Duck. Ushers were spotted around to grab him. Finally they got him. But there was no calling of the lav.-. Instead, they've put him out front. He is getting paid for crying his gabble to passers-by. The house raves about his talent as a mimic. INDEX Bills 46 Chatter 53 Concert-Opera 30 TNcploitation 13 film Reviews 8 House Reviews 45 Inside—Legit :.... 52 Inside—Music 40 Inside—Orchestras 39 Inside—Pictures 27 Intide—Radio 34 Inside—Vaude-Nitery 42 Legitimate 49 Literati 5!> Music 37 New Acts 47 Night Club Reviews 47 Obituary .'>4 Orchestras S7 Pictures 5 Radio 28 Radio Reviews 34 Unit Review? 46 Vaudeville 42 War Activities 4 l>\ll.\ \Altli-.TV (PubllHh'-il in wind Dallv Viirlol.v 1,1(1 I *I0 H velir %\2 ror«* cn