Variety (May 1943)

No HoUi^ Ba(^ of Ace Prodnct Thb Smmier; Expect New Ifigb Warner Bros, and other major* pl-.iducer - distributors, anticipating the bifise-'l summer business in pic- lure houses in decades due to war- lin e conditions, plan to cash In on pyramiding payrolls by relea.sing some of tlieir top budget films dur- imi llie formerly slow b.o. period. ii<-i:oatl of holding important pic- tiMvs back until Labor Day. Figured that reduction hi railroad travel, due to overburdened tran- sportation s.Vitcnjs. which will keep more people home, the dwindling supplv of con.-iumer goods, the vir- tual "stoppage of gas for pleasure driving, the limitation of gas for commuting to country homes, will leave more coin available for ticket bu.viiij!. , , Warner; i.i planning to release Irv- InB Berlin's "Thi.-i Is the Army' arouiid July 4. Some of the cbstli- e.-.t product of the 1943 season will tlii^'< be in circulation during the Kpfing and summer months, inchid- in;: 'Army,' 'Stage Door Canteen' (UA-Lc.sser), 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' tPar), 'Watch On Ihe Rhine' lWB>, etc. Warner."!, with 'Mission to Mos- cow' in release during May, plans to release 'Action in the North Allan tic." with Humphrey Bogarl, in June and 'Watch On the Rhine' In August Eddie Golden SelKng Oat His 7o Interest Inmr'sChildreii' Edward H. Golden is on the verse of .selling out his entire interest -in •Hitler's Children" to RKO for a per- centage price based on a potential gross of $3.,')00.000. This will give the producer ready nuances for new pro- duction ventures which he has mapped out, including 'The Ma.-^ter Race." Withdrawal from future participa The Long, Long Wait Hollywood. May 4. American picture producers .have a soft job compared with their Brit- ish brethren, according to Harold S. Bucquet. Metro director, just back from London where he shot the Robert Donat starrer, 'Sabotage Agent.' Picture Was 95''o completed last Nov. 15, Bucquet explained, and had to wail liirec months more to get the necessary materials, technicians and extras. Louis 6. Mayer And Loew Still Louis B. Mayer, for the past f6w months negotiating a new pact with Loew's, Inc.. to replace contract ex- piring some time this month, last wee'ii continued discussions in New York with Nick Schenck and J. Rob- ert Rubin looking to a stock partici- pating deal in the company. Mayer is reported interested in ac- quiring Loew's, Inc.. stock and stock rights as part of rennmeration for his services in preference to contin uing as America's No. 1 wage earner under his current straight salary and proHts-pcrcentage arrangement. While some details in the proposed new contract have no', yet been agreed upon. Mayier has stated that he will definitely continue in his present post with Loew's since there lion in 'Children.' in favor or a cash »'« "<> differences or basic deal, would also permit Golden to lilf":.''^!'' °' ""^ "* pay out partners who helped finance" his first click and leave him free to continue future financing solo. Among those who have a piece of 'Children' arc Arthur Mayer, oper- ator of Ihe Rialto theatre. New York, and George Dembow, Ji-.. Nationul Screen Service, nmniig others. ROtiators. DILLON, READ REPS NAY GO ON RKO BOARD Dillon. Read 4 Co.. having coin- plcled disiribuliun of Rockofeller and Radio Corp. of America holdings in Radio-Keith-Orpheum. Inc.. will likely take up question of represen- tation on the RKO board of directors next week. Both the Rockefeller in- terests and RCA had representation on tlie..bo^-|d.:l«Uior ^tUI hAvingAwa directors. Dillon. Read and associates, ac- cording to ofHcial sources, will dis- cuss the matter shortly with a view to ensuring board rcpresoiitation for this house as well as other invest- ment groups who have parlicipuled in the RKO stock purcliascs. Brokers announced last Monday (3) that all of Ihe RKO common, preferred and warrants purchased from RCA and Rockcrcllcr had been successfully distributed after two weeks and that the books were closed. OfTering consisted of some 9C.O00 RKO common held by Rockefeller and RCA holdings of 31G.,')28 com- mon, 44.737 preferred and S33.243 warrants. THEATRES IN MOVE TO CONSERVE COAL Minne.ipolis. May 4. In a move to con.scrve on coal, the Paramount Cirnii!. taking notice of (lio coal minors' walkout, had all the blaziiig vertical signs and fla.sh mar- <iuoe 'signs on their theatre.- ox- tinqtii.<hed Sunday i2) and Monday boll) in Mtnneai)olis and Si. Paul. However, ihero was no adverse efTeci on business. \hp Orplu-uni. in fad. having lU bigue.-l .-inKlo day in hi>tory. Only the lishls under the marquees burned dimly in shar)> conlrnst lo the usually bnllianlly ligliled Ironis both in downtown and .^ubiirb.i'n area.':. Houseman Back at Par Hollywood. May 4. Juhn Houseman, signed as an as- sociate producer by Paramount two year.< ago, checks - into the studio July 1 to start work, following a long leave of absence. Leave was granted when Hnu.'-e- man. formerly a.ssoeiated with Or.^un Welles in the Mercury Theatre, joined the overseas branch of the OfAce of War Information to organ- ize the radio program bureau. PH-YOy-Gfl. Pact baa been concluded by John G. Winant, V. S. Ambaiixador to England, and the British'Chancellor •f the Exchequer placing V. S, Him dlstrlbqtlon in Great Britain on a pay-aa-you-ie basis, as exclusively reported Veiterday (Tuesday) in a N. Y. dispatch to 'Dally Variety.' Tbii means the total elimination of the long-alahdWr froien coin agree- ment In Britailn. Major distriba have been inforaied that effective at once rental revenue due from British accounts no longer Is troaen. Makes Britain the first country to eompletely abolish froien money arrangements since start of war. Distribs were told last Friday (301 that balance of coin due for the past six months, estln^ated at slightly in excess of $20,000,000. slso was being unfrozen. This is money accumu- lated since last Oct. 24. when the old balance of $50,000,000. previously piled up in Britain, was unfrozen. With the free flow of rental coin from Britain, Arnerican film com- panies will receive approximately $62,000,000 revenue annually from the British Isles, this representing yearly total after deducting about 2S% for distribution overhead in Britain. English rentals are run- ning today at $80,000,000 to $83,000.- 000 per year. Because the major distributors in N. Y. just received the second quar- terly payment of $5,000,000 under the' prevailing coin pact, from Lon- don, about a week ago. first remit- tances under the free-flow arrange- ment likely will be coming in during the next two weeks. While remit- tance of coin from Britain will be subject to ordinary defense regula- tions, foreign department toppers do not anticipate any trouble from this quarter. U. S. distributor rentals have been frozen in Britain since the fli-st year of the war and for a time represented the freezing of approximately two- thirds of ail American distrib rev- enue. Will Hays, head of Motion Picture Producers tc Distributors Assn., is- sued this statement late yesterday (Tuesday). 'It is now confirmed that as from Oct. 23 last^ special restrictions im- posed' in England on^the American )notion picture industry, in connec- 000. while Flying Foitresses cost Buyout of Korda's Share in UA Before Company Board; Selznick-Johnson Hollywood. May . 4. Tl'.o pui'cha.'ie of Alexander K'lr- da'> interest in United ArlL^i.'! will be pi'opo.sed at a meeiing tiimorro.v ■ Wednesday) of V.\ 'owMi«rs anl dlrectO)'s. It is indicated that the company will vole lo lake over K(i)-da's .stuck purclia.>ed in Eng- land. Approximately SSOU.nuO wnu!.!. be involved in this deal which will piobably be consum(naied in Lon- don, since Great Britain has ».> capiial gains tax provi.-iiDi,.'.. ll i.' undo'stood thai Melrr.. f.>r wlii)nt Korda is now produciii'.;. has c.\.i!cs.scd a desire that he iinlitad hi V.\ interests as quickly as poi- .-:b:<'. Once the deal- goes through, 1 i; is believed that UA owners will rhave clo.ser tics, and that D.ivi.t O. ! Selznick. Maiy Pickfnid j Charlie Chaplin may resume ac- I live p)-oduction. Th; possibility of a new producer I joining UA will be discussed at the , ■ . . ^- .J , - ■ ^ ' '"^«'''"S- as Selznick is now nego- In addition to individual efforts by , ;ialinK with Nunnally Jolin.son. who leaving 20th-Fox to produce on Large Bond Buys By Fdm Cos. Put 2d Loan Over Top circuits and theatres as well as ex- changes throughout the country, the Second War Bond drive of the Governme))t is being substantially swelled by corporate commitments in the film industry. On top of the $5,275,000 Loew's is buying in bonds, Warner Bros, as a corporation is a subscriber for $3.- 000.000, of which $1,000,000 is taken in the name of the studio. In addi- tion, homeoffice WB execs have pledged themselves to buy $125,000, while other - employees throughout the entire Warner structure over the country are down for $405,000. Twentieth Century-Fox is report- ed pledging itself to buy $1,230,000, while In addition theatres of the National chains owned 42% by 20th, as well, as the company exchanges, are individually buying. Portions of the commitment by Loew's is being allocated to various cities In which the company operates theatres and exchanges. In Paramount the company has voted to buy a Flying Fortre.<iN, while employees, over and above their reg- ular payroll deductions, as in other companies, have pledged to raise enough to purchase a B-25 bomber. The bomber will run around $173.- tioo Vith the transfer of iu funds, ai-e removed. Effect of this will be that transfers by the film companies will be subject to the Exchange Control Regulations ii. the ordinary vay, and will be handled through Ihe same maehinci'y as other le- niitlanee.< from England of other B.'ilish .-ul).<idiaries ot U. S. p;,rcnt companies.' All-Star 'Battle Cry' Hollywood. May 4. Practically all important name- oii the Warner rosier will appc'ar in 'Battle Cry.* a package dca! with Charles K. Feldman as associate pro- ducer under general .supervision of Jack L. Warner. Howard Hawks ho." checked int'. the studio to direct. a> parl-ol l!'.<" paok.tge agrcemenU Dumont Television's \ Institutional Ads I Manning Tables May Be System to Protect Newsreels' Draftees Wa.shington. May 4. Ar..-wc r to liie, inanpowcr problem of the pewsi-ceis may bo maniiin-.; tallies, which have already beer, in- sliiun-d ill the big studios In nr.i- vidc for an orderly willidiawal ol their people by the draft boards'. Although ncwsiecl (.•ainciaiiioii around $300,000. Additionally, Ihe Par studio and its many varied the- atre interests are individually con- 'iribiiting to ihe bond-biiying cam- paign, as arc studios, theatres and exchanges of other film companies. hi.< own under Selznick )eleasmg ariangcments. It is evident from cur)ent UA talk that no change in company management is staled for next year, nor is there anv chance of .selling the outfit to other in- tereslf!, a rumor which- has been circulating recently. Tho.'e attending UA exec sessions here are Edward C. Raftery, presi- dent: Charles Schwartz, Charlie Chaplin, Gradwell L. Sears. Arthur W. Kelly and G. L. Bagnall. v.p.'s; David Selznick, Lloyd Wright. Wen- del Silberberg representing Korda, Sears returns to New York Fri- day (8) followed Saturday by Kelly and Raftery. Mondy's session was brief with Raftery accepting reports of ofTiccrs and auditors. Financial statement revealed that company made a profit on distribution last year. An adjournment was taken to enable owners and directors to sludy reports for a full discussion at tomorrow's session. WMC, Revising List Of 'Essential' Jobs, May Cat Industry Workers SCHAEFER MAY GO IN entiiil jobs. Under-si.ioh revi ion, Il<'<;i' \'/.\IC' office.-- and draft bo:iid» Miniieapoli.-i, May 4. I v.ift Vi decide, .strictly on the l>a-i< of cutler- and sound ^p>^claii'ts have j Tiadc considers Minneapolis Keil-I'"''al nccd.s. what particular jobs been cla.ssined a.s e-^sential local, . ^ank report shown,?' '' " dralt boards arc alieady starling ti), , . draw on the-^c people Ml orderf. fill, N">'iliwe.-l business arlivily the The special insiitutionai advvilis- iiiK cam|)ai(;ii by the Allen B. Dii- Mdiit Laboratories, televi.-ion com- pany, in which Paramount controls a 50'- interest, stre.-siim the import- ance ot television and the electronic oscilloscope, will run $103,000 in cost or n)ore. While other pape)-s and magazines may be added in the event .suitable space can he nogoliatcd. at prc>enl the campaign is confined to the N. Y. Times. Christian Science Monitor. ..-.„rro lo i.e v B.,rrons Financial Weekly. Harpei-.- able to protect some ol their PfP"'I n „. hiv and the Atlantic. The Buchanan | for months, al Icasl. f.v.in quoia-shy ^'^^y,r,rv il^ agencv. handling the f»ar ai-cnunt. i-• di af in charie of preparing the ads. | Washington,. May 4. The War Manpower Commi>sion .ha- started a review of it-- eniira I CSS till ia I li.-t. including film pro'hic- llioii and radio, with Ihe likelil'imd ' thai 'there will be .some cliann ■ in FOR INDIE PRODuaiON ::; Sr^ • ir'w^ij^r;;;^^:..:;^^;^;; Hollywood. May 4. ; week. Thi.s indicale- thai, while the George J. Schaefer. once pre.-i- e.-.eiitial activities will proii.iiily dviil of RKO, is iinder.-tood tu be ,''<-'■ ^'i" u'lehanged, the job ria-.si.ica- oiganiziiig an independent piodiic- i.l.'."!'- "Jihin the categories ina.^ be tiiin unit for major release. |revi ed. Heported Schaefer is Hgiiring on » ' Ti- dale the WMC pulii-y l:n, b"en dislribdlion deal wilVi United Arli.its. \', mcrt-ase rather than rediire the ll III! ';ei iif essential job.s in each in- GOOD OMEN jfiiMi-y. ■riu:..'.iiuuiion n/iw..ii...iwiric- I w.'-al dilfercnt. One repoi'i ha. it en- » « c B.-.aii.. vw ^^'^ V/MC may keep ihe 35 cs- B. O. Sern Benefiting Four NW :„:liviti< - bu! abandon the li..l Business Indexes ,'. hoiild be cla.ssifled as necessary and [ licc'iipationally deferrable. Ol".' thing docs appear certain So .sagging quola.s. Thi.s is true in New!highe.-I for any March on record »'■ {„„., national WMC headqiiartcri York where the retlers are deeply. - u „ i concei-ned with the situation. Eslablishmciit of m:'nnii'g table- means that the reel firms would be boa i ds. First group of ad.- ri-nd in part; The Bills Getting Fawncy WlK-n' vfc return lo peace, the ac curacy, the preei.-ion. Ihe .seekijig af'.er perfection which has made Allen B. DiiMont able t'l divide a second into 300 million p.-irl^. will work - again for "Ui- plea-ure and safelv. Then your iiniudcst pi.- i-- , sjoiis ai-v likelv l- be the DiiMoi.t Ducht— Flies High. 1 Te'evi-ion Set in vorr home, and t!ie , Star w^ll be M;ii> Betn Hi^gh'!-. DuMcnl O-eillfsC'-r- in yo.;r iil.-m;." i-er'T.',)v ..iif-»-; to a term eo'itrac'.. Hollywood. May 4. Bill Pii.o and Bill Thoinas. piTj- d..:cers ol action picluies lor Para- mount rclea.^e. wrll lake their fu-l I augury of continuing sma.-h gros.-es. i inahe the listing, actors and other I Indexes of bank debit* both in 91; enlei lalnhr.'- will never be cla.s-iiled itilie- and at farming centers ad-!''^'"<-"^-|iaI. Almo.st a> .sure as that, Mced to i.ew all tiire highs, the •^<'C-nd non-deferrable liM will ap. revic'v said jpcar .-ome time this »prin« or .sum- Farmer.s. too. shai ed In the gen- | "T'" '"^^'y «r- eral busir.e.-- ri.se, their e.tin.alcd ' 'i'l'"-'- "f entertainers. Mari-h income from .-(aleji of riii.c ' Oi e W,\IC official told "V.Triet.v' crops, livo.ilock prodtid items total-' .Mut.-'3' th;it any vi.-.ii lo Wash- «Sr24.0OO.OI)O or 43'--, more lhar. . ii.;^!''i; on'vbehalf of eiiterlainer.< at ir.-.'Vlarth. 1942. | riroi)''. •.-I recently at a mei-ling ot Cited in the icvic-A- wa.? the re-; l* e 4 .\"- exec.'would be premalur* l)«rt of the Mit!nc.-ola divi.-ion of a! ti i time. I would look with di.s- emiiloymenl and .security that mai:ii-' lfi'>">i-.' hi .said, "on any .-|>vcial ap- j. *■ ^ -I'^-i „ . ii... .....,,.! t,^w> fWA.'A K 1.. If — v.a- 58'. abiivp ihe 1936 average.; the door for aclors. even fiir that .vir. paviolls 2'i liinCi the 19:i<I; sro :!i of 3H-45-ycar-old-. w.- w iulr. h.-i.i- |':i.e '.'I open it for every'ludv '