Variety (February 1944)

Wf<1in*s<lay, Febrtiary 2, 1911 PICTURES 5 PAR-WB YEAR AHEAD ON PK U. S. Distribs See Litde Chance For Cartel or Any Joint Deal With Rank While many executives identified with opcfations of maioiv compaiiie.s, lin (he ;(oreigii field ttnoflioiajly. ex,-; ;.]jressed' amazement; that ;,any , snti-./ ti'ust violation could, be wrapped up i<. AW agieemont either with J. Ar- thiii Rank or other interests to handle distribution jointly, foieigii sates toppers see small, chance ot ellecliiis <» ioint-distubution pact with Rank or any other individual or company.- . Tliey^elaiiii lit is not Ja-IKei. cards .for, highly toiinpetitive; inteie-.l.i to get together on global diilubution or even modified foi- eisn bales And they cite past e\- peueiice to prove it It \mU be iccalled that Fantomel coinbiriation pt'-paramount, FJi'jt-Na- tional tWB): atvd Metro, operated in ;m(i3t of, Europe from^. a 1928; to 1929. v 'jhen there :; was Partii'amet. tt ■ CQiiibo ■ of '-lMetro and Par with the; Joiie.' German companyi which -dis- tubutod m Germany back in 1926 pi lor' to Nazism. Both setups, ob- vioi'ish dosiRned for economy of op- .icVation , and maximum' coverage., ,in;ovect highly; impracticable;., ^This,; \\ 1-, pniticiil.ulj liue o[ the Pauila- iiiel setup, which would be compar- able to anv <!imilar ariangemenl ■.with .a>.di.stnbutor ot another loroigii' land Both Aiiieiican films lelt thoy were iiat. getting; the best; , break on' hand li,ng.' 'tlieir: pictures ,.froin ■. UFA. Aist) re,portcd that each U,' S: distrili bi'lieved the other Ameiican film Will getting the edge on deaK Con- Sequentlv, both thisi combination and also Fantomet dissolved earl\, the latter disappeaiing about 1929 Another lUustiation of how ioinl operation docs not pan out was cited ■ tliis ;w.eek' .in the,. tatih-Araerica.h .inai'l'^et, ;. A.t.: one: time Paramount Kad a .W'P.i'king: agreement, tolhatidie Metio and Woild Films pictuies in Austialia Par needed this extra pioduct because if was .supplying two double featuies weekly to Icov Aussie account's Whije working out oka\ foi Pji understood that Motio and;, W'drjcl were . not .sq.: happy,.; be- cause pf . i'ocjing tiial they .iveve not ■gett;ing.. eiipugh ol. .a share, of reve- nue, not tluough an> fault of Paia- mount, but simpl.v because Pai was doing .the distributing and had iti own pioduct to spot into playdates The same experience is recalled b\ foieign e\ecuti\cs overv time ..tile 'subject ot Rank's idistribution. .s.etufi: cith«;t in the 'U, ,Sv,oi- the:vvoi-id- tnaiket is discussed They are con- ^lncod that Rank will never be -^afis- fie'd. -with 'thC; handlf of 'liis:,scrceii prpdutt; in this; cpiinfry. u%tll, he has ;h U,-: owii distribittion ali.g!iment. h6rc .pr;' hasv 'S-Ucii. a direct infl.tichoe in ■.:hai^dll(ig, of .his product . in, .the ; 11; S,; Back for the Washup Hollywood, Feb. 1. Last picture for Biian Donlevy Under his Paramount contiact will b% 'Two Yeais Befoie the AList." eaiiy Ameri'd,an ; Seagoing, . tale ': in which he will co-star with Alan Ladd;:,,;,;;:.; ^ V ,;■:,.■ ;;.; ; ^.v'-m; I',!'; Donle\y leluins to the lot after >e\eial months o£ suspension tor his icuisal to work iil "Incendiary Blonde " Report Rank All Set on U. S. Deal London, Feb. 1. ■Uneonfirmed reports here, are that ,J;'y^rthi.ir Rank iis elpse; to, iiikin^ a ;cleai ;£p.r American ;clistributibnv; He may issue an announcement this week Se\eial U. S distribs hava been mentioned lately in this connection, including RKO. LE ROY RETURNS TO M-G AFTER "ROBE" FOR ROSS Hollywood, Feb 1. Concluding his contiact at Metro with completion pt "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo," Meivyn LeRoy has sigrie.d..a...one-picture with F; .A.'. .Ross;';fQ airect, Lloyd I)ou'gl'ji.s''.;",': ?,t, sclleiv ''The Robe," for ' TtKO , re- lea.se. . Script, has been .in; work fdr se\cn months and LeRoy takes it to thcv statfipg li/ft^ Shooting figured tp take six I months, alter which LeRoy is ejt- I pectod to letuin to Metro for the • ^fwrt-.;pf' iiis .sixth year on the Culver 'Cityjpt.;.^.'. ■;■;■ ^ ■..■■■.i^.:.;;'';;- Cop Hired By Cleve. Palace to Quell Kids' Heckling Gets Mauling Cleveland. Feo. 1., Tp. ,4w,611, 'tlie, heckling b6bby-s.<ix bugade that has been busting up poi lornianues every time a name .sw uig band comes to town tlie Palace ha installed j.mi£oi med cops J'l aislo^ but even the flatfeet can t cor.ti-o! ■:•,'(., hcpcr.ts here. Yb.ung .hoocUums-tripped; and. then iriaiiled .Je.rry; Zelina,, city.jjatrolman' ■woiking pail time at the thea'u- Sundj.\ f301 when he tued to quiet them. Ilackot they put o:i nearly 'stopped the siiow headed by Cootie Williams'' Jiviii^l orchcsiro. Ella FifZ;-; gerafd, and Four Ink. Spots.;,' ;/;,.Ptirin|{' the balcony braw'i'the ^cdp, ..^ad' his .shpiitdcr w'rehched. He had. to be taken to hospital loi treat- ment Seveidl other policemeh tame to his lescue and, it is le- pwtcd., took ringleaders o[;7.oPi'SUrt ■ s;a (Xg aoV<Mi .■ ,tb'. thel;. hbosegpfc ;ageh'ien.t intends to' make;; mi; cx;iirl-' ■pie. 0! then- to .stop; butbursl.s,, ,bX ;.i'p wdy 1 sm wdWcK iJiave be.pii;difrtiirb-!' ill'. 0|)t>ning-day shows and week- ciid,,;p6i'foijiianoiijs'.'^■.;'.'^'''!.-;,iV ;''■• .'■.' Eddie Golden Mulling Release Away From RKO Edwaid A Golden is reported- ;mul.liiig;'' ii,;; djstrilnitlon '3^31/ >awa^. tiom RKO which handled vutually all of the financing and the distiibu^ tion of 'hi.s '•Hitlei''.s Children."; ; I, , Gpldfin rep ; ha.s cQiitacte.d; .other .d'isfribs.;lpo.kin'g tp -'a new ;;reiea'siiig. I tieiip.;:'''.^.'■;.'.:.'..' -z.^.'.;;! ;',■;;' ■'..;;.;', ■',' . ■ .UiidorStood.."that;.'.United 'Ai'tl-sts' .is I Pi 1 e 0 1 , the; dist-ribs': with',Wflioni; .pps?, aibiljty of a deal has been diseasSedi Gcoige Bagnall, UA coast exec, has been in New Yoik duiing the; past week huddling with UA home- pff ic.e; o.ftici&l.s; pit.: a'; deajv^^w iv'tprros.',...4 ;reteas.i'ng";'.,ari-angement with Giiluei), ;trom"a.ocfavmtSj. has alsb- come up. '. ■ •»i-v .;,; ■. .v- ;. '•;.. ....;:■". .ill additipir to; ■"the';M9sies :tb w'bich' GolckMr shortly, the:p'rpduce.r',al.so .piiro,fiased tlie film .i.,i.ghtH..tp ..l.-kj^ser ;W the'. Doctor", last week It ^ a book by Paul De-. Krciif,''^''--," ■',,.:;;■''; ":: '\';,,;:. iSoskin Arrives to Film Backgrounds in H'wood Paul Soskiii,, British.'ftliil pf6d.uc.(51:' ■'. .whb ' jD'artiGipatcd, irv the 6rjg'a.;hiz.a'-' tion of' Iridepehdeiit ..Producers, Ltd. ' ■(lj?i.gla.nf(.?,..a.i'riveri in'the ;U..S.; early' 'i thi.'! ;.''.\i',ee;k;; H'c\s ■.. aSsbGi,at6,d.;'; iWifh,, Gabriel Pascal and J Arthur Rank Soskin lea\ea New Yoik for Hol- lywood next week to film back- ground-.materaal for bis first pro-; diictioh under . his hew .■ setup, '^Signect ■•'With .Their - Honor,''-' 'which <viil" bo c()nipicied..'i.ir';'E'n'glinct^^^^^^ Spyros Skouras West .■'--!Sli5'-ros-,''.Skburas,.- ,2dlhTi*ox'. pr Ofl to the Coast last (Tuesda^ ) night E,xijoeti, to be m Hollywobd about a week for huddlct, on production aiuJ, once-over to new product. British Film Stocks Rise ■ . , ■ London, Jan. 14. ,^:N'c'\v, -yt!ar ; already' .shows ' rising j -tqiidohey; ii,l film';-s'tqcks.'.;;; ■;.;.' ';';'■,;-■■;--;' '.-'^'^Cu.r'rciit' J'i.sGs' are Gaumont. Brit- i^h Common up 35 cents at $3 "Ja; ] Odemi .SI comniCMi, lip "ftp cent.s, at !S(i2'), Stoll Coip., up 35 cents, at ' 4>2.85, BOTH TBIIIL 41 , 'Expected to deliver fewer pictures this season iltt'i-U) tlian ever be- fore in the history of eiihev «om- pany. botli Paramount and Warners, Xvliicli lead witli complelcd product, already have a baoklo; that will probably -carry them foe a whole year ahead. . With production at high speed at the. Par and . Warner slu^ dlos> lliev also ' should have -more thai), a full season's supply on. hand when the 1944-45 film >ear begins this coining Sept. 1. As of the past week Paiamount had 24 features finished and unre- ibaseij, vyhile 22,;;mpi!g' .iyere, in-, pr.epv aration The completed Par pictures mcluao se\cial that were made far back enough to ha\e reached re- lease on the cuirent season's (1943- 44) schedule this aHo being true of Wainer Bros, which has 23 featuies in; various stages of preparatipn. WB and Par each ha\e seven actually shooting now ■■' /Not ■anticipated thcit- Fai:' wiil-'rp-,, -lease' -.more.'Ihah - .the. ;-24,;- 'w''hiq.li; 'iibw' rest pn-\Its --shelves..-';,\vhiie '-at;';the' s'ain'e - time; -libt' e?ipeeted' that 'War,-' nprs;. Will'make ;m«iiiy , more; a vailable -dui'lMg. the/curreiit :fi!iii,' .year: 'thaft. the 17 which it has wrapped uo m film cans Pi-obabilities aie that Warners will not deliver more than. 20 duiing the cuiient (1943-44) semester, ,chane,ebeii3 {5 'i:^^ "this. -nu'mber.;',;in yieW":; of. .relbases^''aS' 'they.'i'e now beiii|'' sc'heduiDd,;; ' So fdi WB has iclea^cd only mne pictuies, exclusive of leissues, though latter are bemg sold as new pic- tures under Separate contract. Par is doing the same w ith its reissues, putting out a fresh Tin > of accessories on each.' Par so tar has i-eleased only lo pictures:on ihe.seasoh,,;exr; QlUsive ;of ''Bell ;.Tolls," wliich is', bcjing sold at advanced pi.ces and will not . see general- release until next year. While Par -s -selling its pictures in blocks ot loui and fi\p, making al- lowances, however, loi salo'.. in smaller groups wheie an e^nibitor does I'.ot want the full packa.ije. WB is,' sellipg; most ■.,it^.,'Iihiis-.sirig,ly' or as douiiloto.is. -;-'•:-: None of the other distiibutors have backlog, anywheie near what has been attained b> Pai and WB DAVE ROSE BACK TO ENG, FOR PARAMOUNT Hollywood Feb 1. David Rose, emeigmg fiom huddle at Paramount, sot to return to Lon- don as studio's managing diiector. '. Rose; will cross tlie , pond after homeolTice conf£ib,s ;ln ; New "i'ork; ;f rip -marks ,lTis; l?'tli_ Atlantic crossing since;; the ,'w'a'r,;-. He\'S-;;du,e"-;i.n-;'^^^^^^ .Y., Thursday;('3)V- ';'!' ;.- ;^ ■ ''■'.:-■ ;-'-'-■■' Despite Beefs, Show Biz and Other Recreation Suffered Less From War Squeeze Than Others; WPB Survey White Hep, Gets Hepper Hollywood, Feb. 1. Republic upped Eddy White, pro- ducer,;- from ; Westerhs.; to. regular leatuie^, undei geneial supervision ol Aimand Schaetei, esecutive pio ducei ,-;F:frs1;;: ■fsatlire''..will be - a' rnurdcr mystery, '■Hepcat Hadne.ss." British Films Seek U.S. Play , - Tr.Kly.voou. Feb. 1. ''■ ;.'Apierican picture ..market, is. .the target.' ;of ,:;a' ;\yartinie'.;camfe or- gani/.ecl by Biitish film pioduceis V ilh a proglam Ot 15 high-budget featuies annually, averaging around $800,000 each and some running up to $1,600,000 Pi eductions will be ;s'tr.eaiTi'ilned; for ■ citslpitiers', ■ in-': ■ the 'Uhited ; States,, with; ..-action.- ;acc.ete- lated and En.4li=h dialects and ac- cents re(lu(:.ed;:to,a; minimum;;;;, * Foithcoming pitch for the Ameii- can trade was disclosed by Barimg- ton Gain, lepresentiig J Arthur Rank, British film tycoon, who is ,aiming , to.;' expaiid ;hi.S' dislribiifion field, not onl.v for the -.duration, but after,; the..;w;a'r,. 'Gai,n,.;is. in Holly-, wood to survey American produc- tion methods and to got a slant at tiie distribution channeK Studio space Gain said;, is the; most serious pro- duction' problem m - England; where quickies have practically disap- peared; Many of the studios; there have been taken over by the goveili- ■ment for the war effprt}; " ■ $3,000,000 FOR 8 HYAMS PAID BY RANK London, Fob 1. Hyams Bros, have virtually com- jileted sale of their eight picitiu'e theatres to Jf. Arthur' Ralik; ,Deal Is- said to iriyoive $3,000,000. Hyam£ Bros, are alreaoy dickering for another circuit. ;;': '.; Washin.alon. Feb. t 'J . Survey; ;bf show biz;,; ahcV -other: types ot leciealion and amusement by WPB duscloses that, despite the heavy volume ot beefs and crying towels, they have been huit far less by war shortages and .squeezes than manv other types oC business While in some lines firni.s. have .boen;.fprcod to fold,' ..WPB. has not a -single, au.-.- thontica'to^-.case Q£ w'here this hap-, pened in show biz becaiLse ot short- age of eithei mateiials oi man- power. Study, made bv George W iVIc- Murphey, chief ot the Recreation 'arid,: Am u Seme ht ..Sect ip |i. of ...the.. -: W'^St- .(pfficc;. of, , Cisfilin'n , .H.ecit'iiremen show.s the.folknving; '. :■;';..'-"..-';;;' ■ ..:■'', Theatics: Theie is no manulactiiie ; p£; pt(3jectiQil'\i!quip^ but' i(pf■ :a single case whcie a pictuie house opcialor has been unable to lind re- pair paits 01 ^ocond hand stiifl when, needed, Same is tiue toi seats on which ;niahufact.u'rc..;has ^i'ls(5';,Sfpj3'pe,d., etc: There IS a shortage of rope for curtains,, etc... but plenty, of steel- wire- and .qable are now coming, through! and the manpower problem, has been licked b> use oC mor-e women Theaties lepoit consider- able trbiible, becaU'.se 'pf a lack, at cai> pet.' ,; However.; Recording t6; Mc.i';', 'SlurphPy,, the mortality; in theatres,.,' -'as.iil other branches ;of show; biz, ;is;, no mbre.andi.pei'haps Is less tbali in;; normal times In tact the industty IS coining money Vaude and Icgit have found the neee.ssai',y-. manpowpr to .get:'aiong',\but have been harraased by tcahspbrta-^ fipn difficulties. Even .so. act.s. liave,' managed to move Irom town to town to keep dates Circuses and Carnivals: 1943 was a veiy good year and 1944 will be another one, says IV[cMurphe> These traveling shpvvs vVorkecl out; methods ' for handling their biggp.st ;prbblem. transportation, by cohside.i-ablc;triiii-.; ming. all of which faile.-! to interfere with the b o, the Wav WPB ■>ees it. Bowling: alleys: Haidest liilof any- thing in the enteitammcnt line, says McMuiphey; due to two thuifis,—dif- (Contmued on page 40» John Mock to PRC Hollv wood Feb 1 John Mock, lecently resigned stoiy editoi at Columbia, goes with Pio- ducers Corp of Ameuca as execu- tive aide to Ilaiiy .Joe Blown .'-.First .assignment, is to: prep the j script for "Greeks Had Word For It Goetz-Spitz's Quartet, Goldwyn's Pix, Disney's Feature Highlight RKO Slate ^;.Aii .;intp'ortah,t> inclfependeiit, ,pro-1 ducer gioup has developed within RKO as a lesull ot the leleasing (ieil^;for.-liiui;;-E>l?t'tfes.'f^ Jlie-new- 'ihterriatiPhiiJ' pictttrOS;/ (Bi": Goofz- r.e;i S'pit2);;dfgahii!atioil.,;Z^--; /V .-',;' '; . In .; .addilibn^:; 'with., .three ,,fiiriis -scheduled/:- from;' S;aii5uei' (joldwyn,- cine feature .slated Irpm Walt Disney,,; tiivd . po'ssibiy , other , incl'ie oufpiit, RKO •: vvii 1' Iw ve a, m • n i mil tttrO iicight, •aTi'd, ;li,l<cly;;tapre :hlgli-bud'!ife^ to .relijase iti';additioh; to:-;.re'i5i(|a-r;S,tu-- ■ dip outplit., '■ LcP SiJitz. (.iriferiiatiphal.H. inbidenlaily,' Slso' set;' th'e ,,0(jUlvv,yn- xleat..^vith,'RK;0.'pi;iglhally^ ,''-'-, ■ -cHfed , E. Tie-y.'.W.. RKO R;..^i:o Pic- tures :);-(fxy. last- vVetik .;emijiia'sii'-ed" Ihiit! tile deal^'jy'fh. Iiiteriiii-tibnii for. four!.pictul'&;0ril.y;;;to' bendeliy.- iered withii) ...oiie, veur..; during^, .the 1944-4.) Season. He stated that ttljlie',',.11.0:' fiitthoi'-;-6,t)mh^i{mo^ .lief' yond thcs4 iom' tUiiu» had been made he hoped for an extension of the deal in due cour.'^e. -/ - '^ : While on the Coast lo close the deal; with International, in:. GoiTiuntt-' tion with Chailes W, Koernci. De- pinet also talked with Disney about future production Disney's 'Thiee Caballeros" is scheduled- for -release late.;spri'ng b'r :oarly sumii'ier,-; ■ -; K.. :■'' RKO siar'.s shooting'-; ioyv ; big- budgeterl ■ in,, February, as . folhivv'S,:. .Married.,.the., iSfavy,"' ;"Iloavcril,y. Day.s" (Fibbei McGee a'ld MoUj), 'Sister Kenny" ^Rosalind Ru-^^clf) and "None but the Lonely Heail' ';(<^.ai;y.'.'....0rantVV.-';.'i3^^ /'that. "Gibson Gills" would loll in llaich The-^c picluics the RKO exec point- ed out,- are siateci fpi' .rt;16as',c.;-'by'Hlie' end Of the Sum;mcr.;';- 'V -;;'-''■■ :■ '- ;;, - ,':; ;'He 'added'that■ RKO^ pla-n^ 'i;or up- ijroximaW m addition to independent pioduct, Goldwyn is readying 'Tica-,uie Chest" (Bob Hope> and his next Danny Kaye pioduction, "Wondci Man," Lou Smith to Coast As Producer, Herb Crooker May Succeed Him at M-G Lou Smith is expected to ioin a major companv as an a-.'-ociale pro- ducer .shortly; tpllowip'S hi^- resign'a-. tion as eastern . publicity -dii'octpr.-'a-t.:: Metro,- Smith W'1,h: P(i . associate pro- .; duepr at Paramount for several yea.rs..; and ha.s also, beeii \^■ith,U^ive!•,'!alva^^(J;.; Columbia:a:.s;Rub]ic.itv PxecMitivp.'-,.-,' Rcali,mmeiit pt Mctio's eastem publicity setup will be finali?ed upon the rctuin pf Howard Diet/ to his; N. Y. headquarters around .lhc mid- dle of ;thc month.. Hei'b, - Crookpr. - W'hp'.has .bcdiV sitting '.ill i"or Smith - durifig the ItiUer's reeeht' illrjos;< ancl.; trip lo the Coa^t is oxueclert to be; named lo succeed Smith Ciookor, ; lor many yoais. was eai>toin public-^ ity managei for Waineis Scveiil. other resignation-? and appointmcuLs; in the department aie expected to follow return of Dic'.z.; .■-,,--.,' ■:■■';'] ■;',:: ': Siri.it h told intimatc\-i; lye fore lea ving .- for .ithc'. Cciast in, pccet-iiber', that he', 'vy.p.uld ,.■ jpiii; RKO ih ;.si. prbdtvctidn, .bgr.th,. -b)it GhijrIcs lioci'ti.e.l-..." that --stti-;.' 'dip's...prpd-t'ictiaii. iio'ad, ;do.iii!i4s'-.suC;H. ai;.' CleariiSi.bri- tfte'liro,'^ V',;''^'■ -;':';.;■--.%''-■'!, '; "Divine Sarah" Picked For Bergman By Selznick .f;.'.; ,.-;>;-;' :■;. ,;,.-iro:nywpp,d,-Peb-1.,;-;.;,, --. --^Nc-xt -starrpi; .t'pr lrii;'ri'd Bcirgroon', ;i under the'I5ivvid'_ 0.:;Seizni,ck bannpy;" ;-will'i)p- a film .ba'sec|-(yn,,;t)it'-'C£treer of. ;,,Sarfl-l-tr; Berhlftirjtt,-,:,siateci ■;;io : start about March 1,3 j - ,;-/Wiili,am: 13iStci'le..'.H^^^ -ciirect',; 1-1 working with Ben lh.fnl on the ■ cieeiiplaj, tentaiivelv titled "Bern- haidfc Hei Lite and Lovcj,,'