Variety (Aug 1943)

Wednesday, August 4, 1943 P&RIETY PICTURES S MULL REVIVING OLDIES s Successor Washington, Aug. 3. -f (Jul of a conference under way here' lata today (Tuesda'y) belween OWI execs and representatives of the five ; NewsreeU muy come' an inkling identity • 6t- ftiial .who -will act as. a liaison, t'ween'■•the OWI and the in Prolonged discussion was anticipated 'concerning 'the' search for a suitable -contort—Hftaftr'- 4mfer_-wa^_nnw _f or. ■ several weeks:. although-, an official announcement was not expected un- til next week. • Attending today's oil-important session wore Palmer' Hoyt. chief of the domestic branch. OWI; Janies Rogers, assistant chief;', deputy di-' rector, janies Allen: George Lyon: chief of I he. OWI News Bureau; E, M: Gluoksman. of All-American Ucwsroel: A. J. Richard;. Paramount: Bob Denton.. Par; Walton Anient. Pallie; George Dorscy. Pallie; Tom Mead. Universal; M.. Clofiiie. - News of the Day: . J. ■ B. Brown, Wjws of the Day; Edmund Reck. Movietone: arid Claude R. Collins, WAC News- reel Coordinator. Details of theirworkings hence- forth with OWI arc getting attention at today's huddle. Lyon's news 'bureau' ha* taken :over from the de- funct Lowell Mellett organization the task of setting up. the reel stor- ies, clearing them, etc. Lyoiv said that primarily it was the aim to.have, a.'heart .to heart' talk about the en- tire situation before making a final decision, Lyon further made it plain that he feels there has been too much -'duplication .. in newsreel cov- erage of government stories, and he ■'■hopes to see more individuality.. He would also like to see the five news- : reels come out with a different slory,. .(Continued oil page 14) Bing's Toppers Not .generally known that a romiiyent Fifth ave. (N. Y.)- hat manufacturer; has been keeping ing Crosby well supplied with .head coverings' for years, It's, a case of Crosby being so chapeau -genie, regardless..' of Whether he's in slacks Or other raiment, that the hat sits well on- - ht5"head.-rn:nre -rlTe-bonnet- mrt-k- ■ ers figures' it's the best type of .plug possible.. '■'. H wood Lauds Orson s Magic (He Thinks)) But Rita Hay worth Was Aide Holly wood.. Aug. . Orson Welles, who is more than a mere dabbler iii the 'black arts." is going lo ,have some fun. himscir, for the next' four w'ecks. Tonjglit (Tuesday) he opened his Mercury Wonder Show for servicemen under ■ big top in mid-Hollywood. Press got preview last night (Mon- day) of what Welles so aptly calls humbo-jumbo, liankyTpahky and al- lcgezam. and. voted it a huge per- sonal success ' for Welles, the ama- teur magician. Before the evening was over there 1 must have been enough chickens and rabbits puHed from hats, cabi- nets and soldiers' blouses to cook up a stew for a regiment. Nearly every trick, known to magic gets a going- over from Welles, assisted by Joseph Collen, Rita Hayworth aiid a dozen others. Bad lighting made it difficult, to know what was going on. Every display of legerdemain is slanted towards comedy effect. 'He works through the audience in all manner of tricks' and ' get lips', and iiscs - the (Continued on page 42) Irving Berlin Probably Will Do a Metro Musical Signing of Fred Astaire by Metro; last week to a long-term contract, after many weeks of dickering: is seen as helping to cinch the; deal under which Irving Berlin Will check I" on the M-G lot. Louis B. Mayer has .been, keeping the wires hot tor 'some time trying to line up Berlin. It'll be. a first for the songsmith at . M-G. Latter, meanwhile., faces a top- heavy schedule which will keep the Berlin music mill grinding for some tmie to come, with picture commit- ments probably forcing a postpone- ment of his Music Box Revue for Broadway until 1944-1945. ■Berlin still, has his Astaire-Bing Crosby-Sonny Tufts musical coming "P next March or April for.Par. His ™B musical with Ingrid Bergman. Humphrey Bogart and Ann Shoridan 's more or less indefinite. Gasoline Ease Viewed Pix Aid ' Greater istribulion; of film the- atre, patronage, spreading it over wider- areas and bringing relief to stricken' outlying communities, re- sort towns aiid rural areas, is seen in in icalions that within two Weeks or so I tie pleasure-driving ban will be. lifted in 12 eastern stales. Addi- tionally, added gas allowances for other purposes', as proposed by the OrTice of Price Administratip.lv' will lighten, the burden on film salesmen w ho have been unable: to cover their accounts ' adequately and. perforce, have had to sell as much as possible over the phono or by mail-order moans. Likewise, film delivery serv- ices wore forced io curtail by cut- ting to live days a week. The new as rationing program, said to have already been dratted 'for ' OPA^aWrSvai. "vClll; Wlptt" Out Films Ceased to Entertain, Now Propaganda -Pennsy Censor Head the pleasure-motoring restrictions and increase the value of A. B and C coupons for occupational driving, it is understood'.' Aside from creation' of reserves through the severe rationing that ;has been: in effect in' the cast, plus the recent completion"'of a piping line from Texas, the OPA is said to be anxious to standardize rationing .throughout .tin; .country: ending the so-called discrimination that has existed on the Atlantic Coast from Maine to the ( Carolinas- aiid caused any -number of ..complaints. Not only iias the resi of the country been permitted more gas but pleasure- driving has been continued. Costello P. A. With Pic to Raise Coin For Fever Foundation Hollywood-. Aug. 3. ' Lou Costello. recovering from a long siege of rheumatic fever, an ailment particularly dangerous to children, is.setting out in autumn to raise a fund designed to protect the kids from the deadly bacteria. Idea is being coordinated with the Rheu- matic Fever Foundation. With his 'pa liner. Bud Abbott. Cos- tello has made arrangements with Universal for a reissue of 'Buck Privates/ the.'-picture thai made;the Abbolt-Costol|o overnight b'.o. sen- sations: Pair will tour the country with the illm.'.turning over , their share of the receipts l<> the Founda- tion with the.studio"adding its own contribution. Taking the view that Hollywood has come of age. and that by apply- ing lite same resourcefulness., vision and: courage as Broadway the film Industry will ultimately save. Itself millions of dollars..several Cuasl stu- dio toppers were reported last week as planning . to take > cue: from Broadway on, the resurrection of old plays'and-novels and refurbish- ing-them for' present-day audiences. ""Behind it also Ts seen the two-fold purpose of not only. attcnipting' to cope with a situation where the piir- chase. prices' for film rights to Broad- way !s revamped' material has .gotten completely out of bounds; but may help solve the script shortage prob- lem. It's figured Dial.' with the stature attained by. Hollywood today, the Broadway prestige angle isn't nearly as important a factor as- it was sev- eral years ago and that an 'Okla- homa' fashioned strictly as film ma- terial by film writers, composer*, etc., can achieve top grosses on its own merit without' being 'pre-sold' as a Broadway stage click. Why. it's.argued, should •■■Holly.-' wbod fork out prices I hat have sky- rocketed close lo . the hair-milllon- 'dollar mark for a property it cOujcl have acquired in its original form at a comparatively paltry sum when it's merely, a question of vision, courage, and utilizing the proper talent: of which there's an abunT dance, on the. Coast, in giving the old plays the correct modern-day musical switch. If Broadway found the successful formula, why, they say, shouldn't Hollywood?. For: Example Impetus to the possible new stu- dio trend has been given not only -by^t-h u s u eee**—of-au e l i co nvees-ions- (Conliiiued .on page -46 i loew smay"show close to $8 on the common With Loew's. Inc.. looking to earn- ings in final month of its fiscal year at about the same rale as in the first 40 weeks, when Hie corporation had a net profit of $9,433.-838. likelihood is that Loew's may .show close to $8 pet - share on the common for the year ending next Aug...3-1.. Company hit $7.02 per common share for fiscal year/ended in August. 1942. The net profit., after all charges and $12,887,- 698 writeoff for Federal taxes; repre- sents $5.1)7'per common: in the first 40i weeks. Although noi, as large, earnings in the final (fourth > quarter are looked for as. jn previous quarters, nor com- paratively as strong as in the final period (it previous fiscal year, even year-end adjustments and other fac- tors are expected-to permit Loew's lo lop the record showing of 19.41-42. Wary of Willkie 'Washington.. Aug. 3. ■ Republicans on Capitol Hill— largely the isolationist group— , -arc extremely suspicious of -20111- ''-Fox's' plan to make a film of Wendell Willkic's book, 'One World.' They sense that the film'.'in? dustry proposes to. fill the.screen with Willkie propaganda at a time when his .'candidacy willbc before- tlic people. popular primaries. Despite heavy writeoff for Federal income and excess profits taxes. 2Qth-Fox is expected . to show net profit in excess of $3,200,000 for the first 26 weeks of the present year or around $1.50 per common'.' share: Corporation showed $1,751,739 in the first quarter ended last March 27 and has held close to that rate.- The net for .the first 26.'.weeks ended last June may be slightly increased if Australian funds,, recently unfrozen, arc included. Report, which has been delayed by uncertainly of mails, is expected out around Aug. 15. It is expected to show current .earnings of Na- tional Theatres since 20th-Fox re-" ccntly acquired the remaining 58"-!. previously held by Chase National, during July. This acquisition will. nut be reflected in any increased Bert Lahr's 'Kid' for M-G . Melro has changed-its mind about Jack McC-invan's 'Oh.'Yoii Kid' and instead of flnaming a stage produc- tion of. tiic■■ McGniViin work has ac- quired it direct for pictures. .crl j. Lahr. v.:ill'--do jl for M-G instead of j on Broadway: ■ '• i 'Kid' wiis hriginally slated- for ' Broadwav production by ■ L- Bcr.-.j man and John C. Wilson, with the ] Metro coiii 'banking'.' Switch in plans • leaves the E. Y. Harburg-Harold ! Al ien score temporarily orphaned | with probability.it'll'.be-.ulili7.cd when.j aiiotlic,- s uil:ib.le book turns up. / 1 Labor, Management Hit It Off in 1st Studio Test Hollywood. Aug, . 'First operation of the labor-mail-' agcmenl plan: in the film industry was repoiicci satisfactory "by a. joint committee of .10 sol. up. by Leon SchlesingcV and I he Screen Cart'ion- isls Guild. Cnmmi\lee reported :climinatiii:i of : 'roriiiclion .bottle- iicclis: .rcd'icliciii in 'operating' costs and.■■improvement'' of .-relations be- twecii emoloyer and c'niployod. ...Of tlic. 15 Kiiggesli'/n.; approved by the' comm.illc .. • 'chlesinao'r adopted 13 completely: one in part.; and has llie oilier .' 'coiisideriitidii. Quiz Marlene in Suit : Marlene Dien ich 'mu<t app";ir f<»i:' Oxaminalinn iiefor.'- trial i;T tho- $4.1,*>i damage acliun brou::li'. by Lily Dache. Inc.:. on or bePire. -Sept. is! accordi'ig lo a decision by Judge Jolnv Bright.; in ••'N. Y. feilyral court On Wcdi:c.-day '2H'.. ilni 'arlrci..- is charged' wiih fail- ing tii.pay for Ii i s and .•iccess'iries which ;slie bought' iiy 19.41- but Inter returned. • • The trial i.- evpecl';d lo begin late in Sepicinbei. earnings for the first two quarters ■ this year because':20th-Fox did not F buy in until July 9. " However, the full year of 1943; is expected Id show substantial In- crease of .per-commoh share earn- ings since 20lh-Fox. would benefit from 100"t.: ownership of National during the, final six months of this year. This full acquisition is ex- pected to show $1 additional per common share earnings: for a full year. ■ Additionally, the full owner- ship of National Theatres gives the corporation an improved tax base in figuring excess profits taxes. • Philadelphia.. Aug. Mrs. ; Edna R. Carroll, chairnian of Ihe Pennsylvania Board of Motion .Picture-: Censors, last .week declared that pictures have ceased , to be a inedium of■ entertainment to beconi a medijiin of propaganda.'. In an nrticld. written for the ■Philadelphia- Inquirer, Mrs'...Carroll, who is also vice-chairman of the Philadelphia Republican City Com- mill cc. bl asted alleged Government iiilei lerence in "TSe editing of pic-" lures claiming that 'excursions inm the Held of propaganda via the mo- vies are part of a pattern of regi- menu.tion which is. diametrically .'op- . posed io repiesenlalive. free' gov. erninent •-whether it emanates from an iiuhistry—or from govcrnmenl." Mis: Carmll pointed Oiil tiial she spoke as an 'experienced, film viewer,, having gandered more than half of- the '7.547.fiim.t which the board has passed on in the past four years. • 'Motion pictures are the greatest ; .source- of --entertainment '. •world.' she declared. 'Its most im- portant function is to amuse, and di- vert: to help pass the time pleas- antly.'. : , . ' Coinplaiiiing that films have now become merely, propaganda me- diums. Mrs. Carroll said: This development, is fairly: recent but ■ the trend is definite and the danger potent: ; What was once sole- ly a source of. entertainment now is attempting to become an important molder. of public opinion." Mrs., Carroll singled but !Mr. Smith Goes to Washington' and 'Mis- sion lo . Moscow" as examples of 'harmful'.'propaganda'pictures. "'Mr. Smith.' declared Mrs. Carroll, was a 'dangerous thrust at repre- -'Continued on page 37) WB Bankrolling Of Richard RodgerV 'Conn, Yank' Revival Revival of the Richard Rodgcrs- Loreiv/. Hart niusic'!. comedy, 'A Connecticut Yankee.' one of the Broadway clicks o: 1927: which Rodgcrs is producing with Warners ■bankrolling.' will represent a pro- duction investment of $75,000 to $100:000. ' It may also mark Dick Powell's return to the stage, the dim slar being practically scl for ; the lead. ' ' . WB. putting up 50";. of the coin.' will have a 25' ■'• ^ interest, in the show ■ ilh an eye toward doing a Itlrn ver- sion. Jack Benny is reported . as anxious to do the p.ictui'.c. ' Stage rcvivai .will be in the nature or a reunion for Rodgers and Hart, who split after th.cir 'By Jiipilcr' musical. Iii addition jo polishing up the book^ they'll do four new songs, plus retaining the. lop tunes from Un- original '.'Yankee' production. Ques- tion as. to .who gels the' production right's to the new in.nes is still 10 bo Ihr.ishcd oul bet ween WB's own ; niu- sic Iirin.-i and i reyfus 01 Chap- pel'l.' WB Awaits Action In Argentine on -Mission' After Burning of Book Because of the recent action by Argenliiic in burning so-called 'un- wanted'-books.- including 'Mission to Moscow.' Warner Bros:: is' watching . closely to see what is. done with the print of 'Mission' when it reaches Buenos. Aires. '■ The Joseph Davies' opus should- reach Argentine by next vfeek/ Single print was sent to B. A. until it's known what action will be taken. Glazer's 4 Years at WB Hollywood. Aug. .... Warners signed. Benjarnin ; (!l;i/.er 10 induce one picture annually for the ncxl four years, with a choice or the: studio's .'■tnry properties. " New pad replaces tlic old one. signed a-year ag'i. and .permits'-the. producer lo make deals wilh : oilier studios. .Tr:ul<! Murk nfKlHicrrtI-. i-'r.i'Niiuii nv ?imh sii.vi:i:man I'lililNliril MVi klv. hv VAIIIC.I V, lot- Sl.r SiU i-rinnn. L'rl'Hldcm 151 WVnt n;ih Si.. Now Yorh, 19, N V V hllil.-i I. . . Sin':!.. l',,|,i,. ..»ll :... 25 C'i'iilh Vol. 151 No. 8 Challor Film Heview.-... House Reviews. Inside—Legit ... Inside—Orch:.: In.-ido—Radio . LegiiiiPote Literati :.....:.. Music New Art- .'.;.... Nigh'f Clubs . ... Ni^hi Club R: v Obi:uary Orchestra!-' .'.. ...... Piciiucs. .':.. ... ftadi - ..... . - f{ad;o -.i.-. Unit H;-\-:ev:V . Vaii'li'ville '.. ..'. War c.i h i't'ie*.: 42 47 8 . 22 4:; 44 . 42 39 41) 3.") 3 22 32 42 39 17 IIAII.1 VAIIIKIV . (('K'.t r l,f'.| In' -llfillv wi.itfl lly ' n.1,1,. v..ru-n.' I .I'd.) .. lit'-a t'i ; :n r?i- ffirclpn