Variety (Jul 1944)

Wednesday, Mf K 19H PICTURES 3 TOO MANY INDIE PK UNITS? Organization of D-Day Newsreeling TREND CAUSES A Saga of Adventure in Itself ■Washington-. July*. ■ .+ ;*."■ . -■. sr.- ■-- v. '<: " .,.„ ■ • Organization of.the setup responsi- •bis for the excellent war film coming o:,t of Normandy, and tor the speed wil-h which it is reaching this coun- try, has.been disclosed by Col. Curtis Mitchell, chief of the Pictorial Sec- tion of Array Public Relations. Mitchell is bade in this country alter aiding.in creating the machinery for getting still and motion pictures to the u, s/: :p;' v.i <: ~£ >>~r-^-" : : The plan for rushing D-Day Kims across the ocean is ; believed by Mitchell to be "the greatest pictorial team play in history." The job was learned the hard, way—from experi- ence—and the machinery was all set to operate, when General Eisenhower gave the word to attack First problem had to do with.han- dling camerameij. The combined U S-British-Canadian forces had a tola! of 4D0 uniformed lensers—210 for motion pix and 190 for still.shots. In addition, were the men ot the American newsreel pool.' two of •-Whom went in on D-Day. Division of work tor lull coverage was cave- ftillv worked out. The U.S. had two full Signal Corps companies assigned to sealed-off areas in advance of D- Day where they were briefed in the work of combat photography Such things were explained as not.photo-, graphing identifying shoulder patches something strictly taboo in th* early days of an invasion for se- curity reasons. They also: learned ■tli* way films had to be captioned; and they Were also given 'assign-, then Is to various: units in the opera-, tlou. :';";0v V"".^. 1 '- V'v.V I. "i"-* 11 '■/ '■ '. ■ '.'H featbir and—Couriers -' - ;7 Hf -.r Second consideration .was fabora- tory. iacilities. A survey was made to Undt out how much combat film (.Continued on page \£> Ratoff Out of Hosp Hollywood, July 4. Gregory Ralolt left the Cedars of Lebanon hospital yesterday (3) alter having been bedded there tor five days as result of a heart attack. Director had gone to -visit Leonard Goldstein, a patient, and collapsed while m the building. His co nditio n has improved suf- ficiently for him to go Home. Pix Guilds Unite To Combat Attacks Don Ameche's $247,667 Second Only to Prexy Skouras in 20th-Fox Philadelphia. July 4. Don Ameche was the second high- est pa id member of the 20th Cen- tury-Fox organization during 1943, according to the company's annual report filed'"last %veelc -with the Se- curities & Exchange Commission here '.J'-. - —- -V Ameche received $247,607 in sal- aries.' being topped only by Spyros P. Skouras. president of the com- pany, who received $253,998. Hertry King, director, was paid $208,333 Hollywood. July 4. Representatives of 17 film labor groups, functioning as the Emer- gency Committee of Guilds and Unions, voted to form a Council of Hollywood Guilds and Unions, em- powered to defend the film industry against such charges as were re- cently leveled by the Motion -Picture Alliance. Speakers at the■• meeting denied that the industry was infested by communists and crackpots, and Urged a constructive program oi public relations, now and after the war, Orators included Mary McCail, Jr.; Walter Wanger, Sidney Buch- man, Herbert Sorrell. James Hilton, Al Speede. Oliver H. P. Garrett, with Emlnett LaVery as chairman. Resolution to create the Council, presented by Speede, business man- ager' of IiUernatloiral^rotlreThoT/rf-ot Electrical Workers. Local 40, follows: 1— To combat all groups or indi- viduals seeking to disseminate anti- laboi* doctrines or propaganda en- couraging racial discrimination or religious intolerance, during and after Hi* war. ■--.'.";, : -'V .■■;:.''. - 2— To bring about the cooperation of all those of similar views in the ■ industry in opposing all groups or individuals who attack the motion picture • business from within or without; '-;•-'■ V..|'-':.; '■-'.;■>. ■•• ■'•'<■-. 3— To protect in every manner (Continued on page.19) Hollywood, July 4. Current tendency of top film players, producers and directors to organize their own production units is causing concern among in nor studio execs. They do not like the idea of financing and re- leasing deals whereby "indie units grab' a percentage of the profits., which are lush these days, t veil with pictures of'ordinary merit. At- tention to this condition was focused recently by the deals Paramount signed with Hal Wallis aiid B. G. De Svh a Similar condition prevailed during and after World War I, with a difference in. financial strategy. In those days the stars, producers unS directors deserted the major com- panies and went In for indie pro- duction because they could nvke more money that way than tliev draw in , salaries from the studios. This time the idea is to whittle down their income taxes. By form- ing then own corporations they can make one or two pictures, a year on nominal weekly salaries and make out then- income, tax returns on the basis of Capital gains, Under the Internal ■ Revenue' rules, capital gains are permitted greater reten- tion of profits than salaries or fees. ■ 'Pace-Setter*- . James Cagney, long a high-sala- ried star at Warners, launched an indie company with, his brother William, and is drawing plenty of capital gains from his first pic'iires. "Johnny Come Lately." Hunt Strom berg, top Metro producer for 20 years, did the same with his first independent production. "Lady pt Burlesque." The success of, these ventures has influenced many who were on the fence. Jesse Lask.y rates as a separate' executive "producer at. Warners and.j, shares in the profits, with the studio ' (Continued on page 391 Wall Street Looks With Much la?or On Film Industrp Big Backlogs ■•: . V Hollywood, July 4. . Bruce Manning, producer-w'iiter at. Universal for seven years, joined Jack H.,Skirball's;ne\\>jJ^diicinj£ or- ganization in an,executive capacity, details of which are being worked out. ■'...:.-;&••' ''■{•■ ...,' .'i'K 'y Manning, who turried out several Deaiina Durbhi picture* at Univer-, sal, left that studio some time ago to \?**t*».} , But it s.di.lere,, accept ah overseas Goveriunelit as sighment, now.completed;••' Average Admish Price Now at 35c PAR WITHDRAWING 'BELL'AUG. l-FEB.,'45 "For Whom the Bell foils," sold at advanced admission scales and at high percentage ternis, will be with- drawn under this policy on Aug, 1, by which time around 800 < engage- ments will have been played. Charles Charles p. Skouras. in charge of ! M. Reagan, v.p. in charge of distribu the management of, all theatres aud i tion for Paramount; , states that the enterprises of National Theatres | „icture will be withheld from gen- Coip , a subsidiry of 20th-Fox, re-iera! release until February.: 1945 ceived $130,000 in salary In addi- j w |u'ch amounts to a "protection' 'of tioti he received a bonus or share'-in} six - m0 utns to accounts wnich were the, prpflts iii the tentative.amomit.of. willing to buv it on a continuous 18-Year Old Estate Battle (Joe Trinz) Nears Settlement - ; Chicago, July 4. The 18-year-old court battle over the estate of Joseph Trinz,. pioneer Chicago theatre owner, who. died in 1920, jieared settlement last week as. agreement Was . reached between Charles Conn, attorney for the '.heirs, and the Chicago Title & Trust Co... trustee for the estate. Some $300.0(10 '■ will be divided among 30 hens , , j When Triii/ died the estate is said ] to have been valued at SI.000,000 In | 1941, after waiting over 15- years for settlement -of theiiv claims, 14 of the. heirs petitioned the Probate Court J for an accounting, charging the tru The ave*rag* admission for U. S. pix now is figured at He, highest fji the industry's history: This Includes 8c Federal admission tax, the amount the average patron now is paying under the new 20"c"taxlevy. Actual amount that goes to the exhibitor is figured at 29c. thus representing.au increase ot about fte over the re- cent average admission of 27 J -ac. The national average admission figured is based on the best available data ob- tained by ' Variety." T-' The 35c estimated to be the aver- age admission in the U.S. today com- pares with 301'jp, the former total paid. Of this. 3c represents the old Federal-10V-tax Actual average will not be available until the end. of 1944 after Federal tax figures for the lull year are issued. ■ "• • The industry has been able to fig- ure the average admission very ac- curately since Oct. 1, 1941, when the new 10%Federal levy became effec- tive, since that extended down to 10c admission fee, Even now, it is not possible to figure entirely accurately what the admission average is be- I cause the 20"c levy extends to othei I amusements. However; the Treas- ury Department recently gave out I that about 90',. of the total paid iii, ' under the 20', tax. represents film theatre admissions. . . : '. . Surprise feature of. the new; aver- age admission "figure is that 8c repre- sents the. Federal tax while there has been only a Pic increase in the price to benefit the exhib. . Most of major .fi I in 'companies y.'.i' t. stari their new seasons. I iu? .i». i month and early So.iten' wr witu Mm greatest backlog of pro'.tuct f if » And with .a maioruv of rh.-ii. 11<<■>«- is regarded an asset, by Wall -Sti-i'i-j. father than a liabilUv, ,i* gecev*Kv viewed in financial quarters The Street lias looked on ,» hign inventory in normal times is vi>pu'..- i senting too great a risk ■ for- Tim I sound financial - setup of .V jjiot.iv- e. lodl'iy .? ' A. large inventory or !>a. king of suitable product under■■ present cu-i- ditions means that the piodiicp -. .distribiitoi'. company h;i-i leJchaj tlu« hew ' season with . productions- &"1 ■.tars generally tarried >ut M M .cwi', siderably Jess cost than, they cou'd be produced tpda> .■ Fact that shrewd picttiri? (>>:e..'!i- tives spotted their mal« stai v in ov-o- ductions months ago, when thcy were about to be called to th * coJo. s, > means that Several distributor.:} vri'l have: topflight ..features with.. thesn .stars even though they are rO.v-lyi the service, \ ■ An even- more . pertinent t*jior- about the big backlog is- lint •• m v majors have stacked -'iiii-comed'es, down-torcarth stories ' Tiiid ,»«»>.%f dramas in their stockpile Figine:f that these would better iii Hi.; c. u- cial days ahead-and would ita muh't more welcome at the boxoftice ti ;i t war stories as soon as tinaee is de- clared/ More intelligent scrwii ' • a. and yarns that appeal to tha luidd't*- aged and older generation are in- cluded ju most backlogs Since, i| is believed, the postwar iMvuiflse v' : 'l have to lean heavily on these t ,-:i groups.'' ' " '.-■•■' ■':".'',) . The fact that mosfi eomoatites ltfWe fairly denuded their.shelves 61 ■ ■- fheirie films also is regaided as'.giiod business in financial quarter;! SEE SHOW BIZ LABOR 100% FOR FDR AGAIN JANET BLAIR SUES TO BREAK COL CONTRACT • v . Los Angeles. Ju'y 4. . Janet. -Blair, .film actress "' a»!!f former orchestra vocal is!;, filed unt here to break, her contract veU*» Cj- lumbia Pictures. Comokijnt "declares her io'-iMV manngci. the.late Ale< Ho Wet, Al- tered in to- a .--secret jgietfniC't through Which the stiid' j oi-;i !c. a certain sum for obtaining her :»e.i /- ices. V. * ■ ' "■ r ' : '' .'. Richard F. Walsh, president of the IATSE. observes that not only will teejiad diSMpatecl niore than, halt a j President Roosevelt obtain the sup- Lub- \ polt °^ th - IA ' !) ut also theatrical $185,000 The law firm of Willkie, Oiien, Otis, Fan &; Gallaghel received legal fees totaling $255,000. Wen- dell L. Willkie, chairman of the board of 20th Century, is a partner of this firm. The tirin of Dwlght. Hanis. Koegel * Caskey vvere paid! Si.»0.0i» in legal fees. „ j The incomes reported are gross j salaries and do not take into account tax deductions Wood, Cooper Sever On 'Jubal Troop' Agreement Hollywood. July 4. .1 Verbal , agr e em e n t be hreefvj-Gary j Cooper and Sam Wood tor the film- : fig or 'Jubal Troop" foi- Columbia 1 ielea.se is out. as'result of the stai's* ; vecent signing as a produce -actoi with International 'Pictures , William Goeis and Leo Spitz made an offei t i Wood to produce "Jubal" ur.dei the International banner with' Co- lumlia releasing ;t on a percentage i basis, but.Wood turned it down, '■-'■ j 'There was no personal rut be- tween Cooper and myself." Wood ex- ' Plained. "It was only a matter of ' the. complication, of Gary's two deals, and :my desire to stick strictly.to my i'bhgutions to Columbia; roadshow basis. " > • : .. - While Par .sold the picture at 70';, of the gross,, it at the same time agreed to guarantee a . profit to ,the exhibitor ot l'Z'$%, higher than the lO".'-..which. Was guaranteed ■ on the same percentage .terms foi- "Gone With the Wine." industry's highest | grosser to date. Par contracts on 1 Bell" called tor admission mini- | mums of 75c matinees and $1.10 eve- nings. .However, on the N. Y. en- gagement at the Rivoli, which was taken over by Par f<5r the picture's run.-the.evening top was $1.65; * t million dollars, through mismanage men t.-. Tri n z - was . part ne r, i ii the liner & Trin? circuit, which pre- ceded Baiaban "& Katz in the theatre chain field here. Many ot the houses are now operated by B & K, MPTOA SEEKS TO i CRACK TWIN CITIES Film Employment Rises As Other Jobs Tumble , • , Sacramento. . July 4. Motion picture employment in- created in. May while other Cali- toniia industries dropped sharply, according to the California State Labor' Statistics Bulletin. Average weekly earnings for the month in film business were, S73.02. compared with $72.78. lor April and $6637 tor May. 194;}. , ' ■ Other, industries-.in the state regis- tered - a decrease ' oi 36:10.0 ".age earners for Mav.' .1944, compared with the' same moiUi last yea Heaviest • losses were in , airci.iit pkuU< and .shipyards. unions of the Congress of Industrial Organi/atioris Expectation is that before election dav rolls around that ] FDR may seek to cinch the labor j vote . through administrative moves, j designed ,.,'o appease- the rank-iind- file of union mcinbers jn all indiis- | tries,:i:':/i^..''.-w„i-'.-^"'-i-J'j • Believed that one step,)!* may take will he lais'ing the wage ceiling of the so-called ' Little Steel" /ofinula.' ■tp permit increases of more than ■ Cpiisiderabla . pressure has on this salary restriction, including among .film in- dustry unions . ■ ■'.''.■-■■'■ M.nneapoiis. July 4 I Th'p':na(io'iia.[.Motion Picture Thj tfe Owners, of America is trying to. 15 break into this terrnoi y for the first - been brought to be, time, in opposition :o the North Cen- tral Allied, twin-citv . group,' fuirl No it h west A filed. I na c f ive o u t-o? toi'.'ii-association. Two latter b'cidie. "conimmoe'"^ indeperdcils h, S. SkoUraS jft HuddleS been appointed to toutact indies', out-j side t\yiii. cities, and, deferiuiire ' J10V'. mail}''.-are willing to joii^.■;.■.■.;•'' < . ,f •;r: No Rest for Durante' Holh • ood. Ji::v 4 Jimmy Durante, current iv dou- bling in*."Ziegfcld Follies" an.d ' - Mit- j iit foi Millions' at Mctio. di ai', s t - o [.more chores when lie; "f ind- up,.j.i'i.- i dual actj.v'i j Waiting fui •coni.e: 101 rotu.-f.1n ' ' BriH-i'^n Be;it'h ' av I "Ca-jo'jges and (Kings" -both' Joe P'J-tei'iiak prdduc- ■ tioiis."'.'' ■r- '.','"'.■".> .-.y With Zanuck, Schenck \ , : .■ Holly • nod July 4 j ,Mfi'.<. ' ; his first Hollywood ap- Fpe n .li'ce. spite, his return from Eng- laii'.l- So; 1 os Skouias blew into town over the weekend for huddles with (Diuivl Zanuck and Joseph M.. , Schenck over, campaigns for ' Wil- ; son"* and blher new product, Wfth Skouras wer.? Tom O'Con- > noi, vei'ijoc tf\ thai of world di.s-. tri'ouli.ou: Bill Kuppur,. saliVs . man'- agei. Charles SchlalfiT, ad manager, ■yuri Ju'r< . Field,, siefd. exploitation hirjd. ,'.■.'•.• ■'. ; 'i '-.TraOfli Marl: ttc-RiMi'^.i"! v(>i:xr>\:<< tit Mm-- w«a" ; i'ill«lis!n.il Hci-klv l.y V.A«lf l V; S'(i SSl'.'pr.niuii. f'i'.v.!.-.., l.*i «>-i 4(Stli «., »» I'm 1. .! l:u •liSIii'it H jiiiils'- yns tin a Vi-ai- ;$1-V, E'f.i.c'i:/-