Variety (Aug 1944)

Wednesday, August 2, 1944 PICTURES MOVE TO CUT F Ml BUDGETS Term Pacts for Key Loew s Execs In Addition to Pension Incentive Teim pacis aic reportedh being-* woiked out or a group of top Loew's, Iiic , executives who have been with the oigdni/atiori loi many yeais in . strategic; posiliipfis but wfork'iog'vt'ife (K.t ticUets. WhUe move to tie up execjtives rndv extend to the Coajit alio, thobe most piominently iTieiltiOned are ed^tei n exec? Loew b, I 1 common witW other ma- loi Lompanies, hat, been tStkmg steps to teldi'i top pel sonnet ttirouijh con- tviict: ■ dfcails, with^^tjie :.pehiii6ii 'pla recently approved , by . the Stock- holders/ bemg one move to pro- vide ,,311, :.,incentive.' ,/With'.'ctirrently- hi?h coiporatior ta\es, Hkely to be vcohtiniiec!': at/ a;"still:.:r^t6rto yeai.> even it theie Js some reduc- tion attei tile wai. conipotitue bid- ■ A'.na tor talent and executive per- :;i:^onneJ '^ by" 'various: miybre- has . 'un' 'Wttled.' sev^^^^^^^ '.; campaniesi, : linder- . stood that, sortie, bf the Lpe whom'cohtracts are iinder w^^ tion h,ive received frequent bid.s fio.m oilier companies, '■■ylr-.i'' ' ■;. 'V Among execs cuirentlj reported in line ioi term tickets ar^ Chailes C. iViobUovvil/ head of Loev\ i theatre operations m N. Y... and Joe Vogel. , .heading.iiR circuit operations out of New YoiU Mookott It/ and Vogel, on the Loew boaid oX direclois. ai'e inembers of the leccntly organised Loew's e\ec- ivtive committee whose activiiie's em- biace alt phases oC pioduction, dis- tiibiition and administiation as well a*! tlieatie operation. ' Mildred Natwick to Be Tested for RKO Film ■ .'WiUlrori N.'itwirrk .left for the■ Coast last week 127 ) . to be screentested by RJKO: t'oi- a;, rcile . in "Enchanted Ci'ot- tago," Doiothv McGuiie-Alan Mar- 'shan\sta:rrerv.'"' ' '' ': ■ J ''. Actre.ss. who.se, last. Broadway ap- pearance >yas-in "Blithe. Spirit, ' has played only one. previous film role, in ' The Long Voyag? Home," in 1940 The Coast Slant Holl>\\ood Aug 1 ■ War MaiiDower Commission's re- luctance to approve salary raises, to salaried employees ,m the film m-. dustl'y IS causing discontent and lesignations in many o£ the studios. Even though the einplovmg studios are willhig to up the salaries of elTicient emolovees. the WMC nixes them: altliQugh in many cases the emplovees have expanded their work and responsibilities As a lesult nnjn> competent oflicials have le- signed lo accept more important posi.s jt other studios as the only ■ way.t.p increase.the! white, departhieii.t heads .are havjiig a touqh time keeping then oi !;anlza- -tional setUfJS tbgettifer; MAY ADMISSION TAXES UP 150& B'WAY LOWER ' v,/ ' - ' '[ 'Washington; Aug. v. ",'■ Feoeral admissions t.ixcs foi May hit 'S2f),240 195 almost two and one- half times the $11.109 476 of the same month, a year eaiiiov, but' more than $2,000 000 belovi the Apiil 1944, ■ fig li res;' The. m ofiili - to ? m oh tiv d.dfiine is seasonal and not as bad as a year ago. It was the second inonth Of .the ; 30?« - bite oiv .fiiteries; :and'; 20''p on ailuisement : tickets. ' (Detail.s' ron ;'legit,(ma{e.t..th.Batre sitiration: in.l^ ■•sectionii ';'• ■■..■■'■;■ "..■'.,''■;.'■;:■::•; Bioddwav bi/ v\as below the level 'for the"' country, as &■ Avliale.'VF,fgti're.S ■Iirrrthe,;3d i^w'York-Intcrnai;^ nue District. :all of;'M^ ;' 23d- St., .shOv.'oci' 'May, theatre taxes o.f . $2;7li.63T. iess thah twee f;he;:$l;787,- AH- foi- iVtayi 'i.NSiV'aud^^^ fi'.flO0;ObO': below.''tli£! '' Api-ftV.ta^ "of t:ie Government. Robots Big Dent On London Films Nazi robots are cutting a huge slice out of U S film rentals in England trom accounts; owing to. the number of -picjiure house plosings in :London and: other areas. . While- total losses aie as vet incalculable, damage is al- ready computed as running into hun- diedh of thousands of dollars With.a large number: ot American films-playing on percentage, the re- duced theatre attendance has made itself immediately felt in U. S. dis-r tr.ibution receipts. ■ While no on icial estimates regard- ing vtheatre sh.utlerings :cari be rhade available the shutdown}, combined with the estimated number of people staging away from those theatres which: continue to operate, has re- sulted in reduction in: attendance of from 25-50% in some sectois, it is understood : U. S him rentals from England are reported at between $1,500 000 to $2 000 000 weekly under noimal op- eiating conclitions. ' WB's Debt Reductions Augur Possible Divvy Because / Warner Brof^. has con-: tinu.ed its deljt. reduction prbgrarri .to such an extent'.that bank . loan: pro*. 'visOs no' longer .stand in. thie . Way; a dividend' on the coiVimdn now is ari- ticipaled by Wall Street early this ifall. ..Fact that: earhihg's, hayte; poh- tinued. af the recent tiigh leyelii: also' is-bacK .of this expectatiprii'. Previou.^ly the .provision in War- nei bank loans and' debentures against payment of . common dtvvys unless net cuiient assets exceeded $15,000 000 01 the latio of current assets' to ciirrent lia|jil.itie.s is better than 1.73 to 1. delayed such di!5tri.bU'' tibh. ' However, WB showed $S2,000.- pOQ, current' : asi(et$ and .$26,000,000' c'urren t. 1 i^b il i ties ■ at .'the' end, of its first half fi.scal year last Feu..26. : limvEcosi Long-considered plan- bv maior companies for . a ■ 'change, ,.i..h produc- tion policies with a view to ii-icreased studio outpi^t;, and;'a reduciicin iiv cost-ayerage cf ■ai.'iniiaVsche^ are now being yorked out. Move, which was repoited in "Variety"' around the beginning of 1944 as undei dis- ,cdssibn--,by pi:bdu.ctioh'distr,ibutib execs, .is pr'dicatcd mair.ly on a near^terni cliange Iron, a war to, a ■pSaSetinie .lecpiiibm^^ .■.bother, factors',, however, aie alto leceivuig concen- tiated study "roblem whicV film e\ecs have been, oonfronted: with. ■ during: the b.odni. era, has .b.eeJi:, the. ,high.;'ov.er-.' head co.sts charged up tj each nega- tive bccau.se 0£ the limited; .number of pictures , prodiieed.'. W.hile' reiitals !and :theatre .grosses' cohtihi^ some execs have contended that the pet-picture studio overhead should be reduced bv 10-15', and that this could be achieved mainly through increased'. pi-Qduetion;'; via. yiij^^^ the same facilities.. ■ ■ ,■ ■ . '■ Some production ; toppers, also, long, have . felt: that ; production costSr-labbr,, talent; niaterials, etc.W cannot be, reduced as quickly and in, proportion to any dip in profits which may lesult. At ,';the, sarrie ; time;,, conviction i ji itiany' -trade- quiariers :has been that current long runs will be consider-, ably reduced and thatmore frequent changes? in program will 'become necessary to maintain picture house business Complaints trom exhibitors, in many aieas ot insulTicient piod- uct, ot course, have also been taken into account.,,The temporary drop an grosses, earlier, this sLimrrier; made an impression, on ihdu-stry topbers. , . Metro "and ,' 20th-Fox. principally, have been taking .s'tep.s to ' reduce (he aveiage negative cost through tlie scheduled pioduction o some lowei- priced negatives, but other mj)ois have also I'cfiorted readiness to tuiii to increased Schedules as soon a- the situatian warrani;s. .' At RKO. the - concentration on , re- 'leasing:;:deals vwith ..topflight'. ihde-: pendent pioduceis whi'e studio pio< difptibn,. with- tew exc'eptions,■ i§ .rclati-vely: lovv-budsetbd, * indicsfes polic:' ;of ■ treatrairti ihspfaK. as:..iargC; negative investment is concerned. High vi^artime cost ol production, ,With .manageni'ent poss.i bly; fe'ari n'g: a backlog ,of'expehiiive product as too sijecu'lative at this ;time.,: may .be,'the ntbti'vating 'factor in ,this ins'tahces., , Whi le ;Uni versal' ha.s' ah. 'u'riu.suail2? large .inventaryiot priaduct. majority Of lilm.s ,' are not ex,cessi ye budget ones. .Places company .i.n strong,,spot postwai in case of bi/ dip SAG Picks Geo. Murt>hy As Prexy Nominee ■'':'Hoily:VVpncl,;Allg; Ik',' ■.I. Screen .-XcUir.s .Guild, nominated' George:; :Mur'phy; for'"t.he, pres,fdeivcy', .tq ■ succeeid'' Jaiiics' ..Gagi-iey, r'e,tirin;g, '^J'ter two,' yeSrsi.' ' 'Nbniiiia'tib^^ : yirl'ii-^ ally means election. '" '■ ^'''Afeo" homii-.alerl are Fau! Harvey, 'tir'st'; ye'epee;',;Walter , Abel,': .second, 'vecpee; Laraliie ;'Day, :;th,i,rft ye;eliee'; Lbcilte G'ieasph, veeprdrbg -seiji;etai;j',; ' and Russell Hicks, treSsuiei. DOVER COMPLETES USO BRIT.-JOB, BACK TO PIX '' ,■;'.:'>; :■ ■"'; "';■'■' London. .luly 20. Sent. byef here liy .A.bc .Lastfbgel, :fe'S'0:ipari'ip'. -.'Show's'. head,' Willla ih D.oyer. :ari::'iv'ed'', here a -yoar,, ,ago' ih: '■Fcbi'i-tary, to organize; the tiS,0:6ut,,fit. ■ioqslily. ;:By -October, tlie whole; C'ciii-'; ,'viSTi y.v:ticfcet bvbkers; howBve,r;'had|,struct)ve;;iiKa of the;j;ob,,'Wilp have , a "gbqd; month" •ih4laj!r tailing ;ov;er' ,^ ;to Ut'i'cie ■Sarri',.$'3§;301,'/bettbriii:g -.thoj ho'fiirthei-f.neefcl io.:stay. .He.;'ls'fh'.ci:e ■ imOarbf May; i943>'aha tho '$^^^^ : 6£;April,:'i;944.';'„:,■;':".' ' -'"';■'' ::.;Coii,trary' .to 'tfe' trerid ioi; .the' re- fove rel.u.imirt.g. to Holly wood Ip''re-^, .sunie his -activities in .tt4e''ftlrft -ind'us- tvy:./:^:,':;..,'','.'■■':.;-;,;;, ;.,:^:.v--^;'V -,;'■;; '; ',„, RplJcr't-, Ra:'pr3ortv:'s,en t; ^herle-: t,b ■ assist b,p j^"^iV',w) W t a: e^t li IF eh a rgb. v'. ',t\5a.uifler ,of.■thc:,'.eoi.'intiT(,'.'Brp .' n;iteri.e,.s' ,'d.id:. w'.brse,' ''.than , i.n ^^Abrli:: ' ,'rlley tur,n'e(J'.ovcr; a $51'4;48(3 bite'.;tb the Revenue Collcctoi about $60000 Ijejow . the preceding, riibhth. Kow-- ;evev.:, the,, take '■lool;ed . handsome :'whcn; cohtrastcd'^ witli' the '$16S;744 -lpr.IVlay>;;;;i943,,',- ,:'''^..;',\ :'' :.F.edera.'J:taxes:',.b.'ii': tK,e:sale oCradio iSeW.;. p)ibffograplis/and,'^-'partsV'were;'Vbec'n injiad.; -„''''.,V' -s,,:';, '.' ,; ■;;; ■ ,;;,;'■'^ : : tiQ\yn , to ■'$154,8?0;;7^bOu'!:'''S()O.OOiJ' .ber-' ' Fcnime prbcl'uccr' ;cl)eckod;,'«m i-he jov'v the 'same'.,moht:K':'a' yq;iir 'eai'i'iiji'.f lot ■sc'x-erar ni'p.ntiv.^-aso ;a,f,ter an' ai'-gb-' "■'Phohb.srapli "record lax.: ,tiawever,l hi'^'iil vv'itii aff ,,;exe'c' '^^;f^■s■' «))'. 'the''take l>eing :'si97.&Ga ■■for:i;itil)S■^o^-ht'r,'■■p);odileUoh,;,^Phan:tafIl ■:youi- ,Uncle Sam.^iCoiri ppefiiting.de-: Oady>';' Uiiderstood ' Studi;o;;',jha(!e Vice* paid the.tax.miih a 'sock'Al,934, hoveriuVcs/Mvl^V- 'v ''?"'■'■'.', , '"■ -■■'', ' '■';';, ';;';!■',;,:'■,'J'picttfie ,c|ic);'pci,,"■ '''' Harrison Back to U 'V ' f,v ■:iiollyw'pod,''Au,i;;, i; ;■' Dciii \U>i-:t])fi. refctirtt' of JOati ■,Ha;rri;'-; so'ii>io, .ilniveffia;! ■as,,,;a -i3.rbdufccJ'',Ha;i» UA's Graduated Distrib % Scale ' Wii h ■ Grau' Sears,'. Uniteei ArtiW j y;>.,;'in: charge of distributtba in' jEng-' ■ la.'-d to h.utidie 'vvith ,1. Ai-luir Rank ,'j.oh' a rc.'cr.sini; deal, understbod';tti^t' r a;'graduatedv^spa'le'j'oi^ '''disirfhution' ,, may;-" 1j6 ;w,-brl5ed'''-'0''Ut','':r;ahsH,ig possioh 27'3-30»;. on lov<ti gio-sci and sliding to 25% iylien^^rCiitals' resoh;'- ^ 'p6iri\ ; gi vihg; IJA, a" wbrkirig' nvargiff :o.f'' bfb/it;,;,;.,';,'':.:';":.: '?':,■■';■;',;:'" ; ''Searsi''.tcofij ''acco'tihtsj ■■is';;i:bp]<infi. over'.'Rahk'pi-pdticl' w-h.i.le'i-i.i,' (Siigjand. i;llj<e;ly,-''tp:'jel,eCt''.,ftve';,'p't', .si,.>:',:'piciul-Gs !'i;oi'' relpaKb 'ii'i'':tlte; 1^;; $.,{it[ ,a, deal [iii ' bpnsuiTi'n^ied.' ,,' Ratrl^.'has '.ibput ■ 2(.i 'PiCtt!V/;s.cpinp'l.qfeL ; ■■'...''■■' ■;',:r^, V. ;:■ Deal, if: set, "wobia. .pf'''fcourrie; 'be. .b'yen'tualty., -,.su|,jn'ii:tled,".,. ta ; '' ll^ve,,, UA; Mu'ari;t ',,pi'' dii;:'ec't«rs:',f'H,r'' ■i''at.i.iK ,; ' Hopper Takes Job As M-G Gen'l Mgr. Hollywood, Aug 1 Haiold Hoppei will join the Metio oiganuation Sept 1 a« gen- eral mahageiV-assumlng the, position held foi 17 years by Eddie Mannix Deal was closed at the studio here, aftei seveial weeks of pieliminaty conlerfinees with Louis B. Mayei, NiclioJas Schenck and Mamiix in New Yoik , yiltil:he tskes Pvers.fhe. po.st offl-, cially, Hopper,w'lll work with Man-, nix 10 get a thorough gra.sp of the •routine of operations.- His duties will be lo Ivcep an eye on pioduction .i'osts'; and. -watch 'o-ver. ihe .'.executTve' and < administration departments. Under the new setup; - Mannix will devote; his - time ;tb - labor relatiphs,' . back ■ lot .' opera!tipnS.: and , general, physica.l; ,: .,workings,, of-;, the studio..: Move will also enable Louis ' B. Mayei, Sam Kal? Ben Thau Al Lichtman L K Sidney .1 J Cohn, M .7 Siegcl J K McGuinness and Haily Rapt to give moie of their: time to the development of impoi ■ tant productions. ' ' ;''; '■' , Recently iHbpper planned-a; survey, :of falm-conditions m. South America as president ot the motion pictijie section ol the Oflice of Cooidinator ot Inter-American Affairs, but ha.s given ■ ,iip'. that; .-iibsition.'.' .Mntil." h'is successor' i.s appoiiVted.i; the - job will be filled by ITfancis AJstocki .fibw: in; Hollywoofi for CII.'K. ' In-vthe film bu.siness for' 25-years., Hopper i.s well, acq uain ted, w.i th , al 1, thc::,aiiglc.s., ';He has been asso'eiated ■wiQi" iridependbnl produCtion-,;aS) ..an executive ':and ;;a .financier, and ■ was at 0.116 titpe..RreSi.dent of .the Cinema Mercantile Co.,, • which . provides: studios; ;witii props.; Two '.year.s. ago he ..was appoiiited;! head of'tHe film; photographi.e ; division,', of,; (he War Prod uetiph' ;Bpard,. a nd ;pniy,' recently joined ClAA Hopper plans to continue opera- tibtr of the :Cinema Mercantile,Corp., whieh he 'bw.bs.: I-ie;'ha.s not ;yet. de- eided whether; he ■ wi;ll ':Contiiiue.;.,aH; presideb.t' bf tl^e Motion. Pjcfu;rfi ,fe^ cicty lor..the:iAmei.ioa>:.'. -■;...;.':■"' ..;: One - of the mo'-t imporia'--. I ■ de- ; yelopnient.s, resulting ' from, tlie. p;i.-'>v- d'UcUph' of Govei'iimont: films; is . that,; me way will be pa\ed thiough pei imenlation, foi tlie pioduction of sponsored educatunal-entei tamment film's '; by., such ;studios ■ ',as W;»!t Dishoy's.' ;;■>.. ;;V,'.. ''■■,''.',,: ■■■■„'■':■ , Under,slo,od that Disney " is^pre-.'. paring lon,g-runge plaiis for produo- (iph of Cominorcial fllhis; with ■ '•basic'/ 'values" designe'cl/tb.; be^of.';pertna.n,en;t,; use While Disnev has alieady lo- (cned oflers from .se\euil or the largest industrial,-. organi''-atibiis - ,iti .- . America'': to:' make .-'such - ;sponsb.r!;d, 'r com;mcrcial-cducational , filnis'" sfudiij .' hat ' so, 'f a,r ■ rejec'ted a IT p la iw Iteca user. of.' 'lar^'v ', Goverbmc ,,'pr,p;d,uctraiv ";' s('iedules. >:".;',..,..;,■;■ '../■,■.■';■'.■;;";■.'.'■!;;'■ Seveifl U S coipoiations have ofVered to undoiviTite pioduction by Disney to the extent ot over SI 000 000 -. Or.eanizations . hrst .. approached Di^ncy with plans toi pioduction of convcntiprial ■ Commercial product.; When plans were outlired foi ad- . vanted types ot commoicial films '- which would be intrinsically edu- calional and acceptable in the ente'- tainment sense, e-^ecutnes pioposed immediate production Roy Disney, who has bet-n e/c-; ploimg commercial piodurticn po- tentialities, left New Yoik loi Mexico over the past weekend lu cortnection with the showing of seven Disney films teaching leadinij • and Writing. ;He plans to prbsei.ht the same films in Cential Aineiici .slioitl\. and possibly othei Sou'i An-ici lean countries later. WALLIS' N. Y. POWWOW ON PROD. IN LONDON Hollywood, Aug, 1 Hal B Walhs is en route to N Y. I to confer with Bainey Balaban, Pao- mount proxy, David Rose, compdni'j chiel in England, and Joseph-Ha/en,. his associate, regarding plans foi the setting up of pteductions to be madp , bv him in England He plans to go lo Gieat Biitain tor the slart of his ; first picture -.there - in. early .s-p'ring,,, ; . ■ W&llis expect!! to .give the gun to 'The Affaii.s oi Susan" at the Pjr studio hero <;arly in the fall RATOFF AT WORK ,., '" ■;'' '' , ,. -';.; .Hbily;wptjd,,, j\.iig,:-;ly: ' '■y-Cs^'•jj.i'xyy.• 'Ha't,ri,fl,"vW;|ib, './ I'l^eeViily undcr<.fei,ii an op'ei-;,i,tiGi:t''fpi-'.a :kir.!,i,it'.y' tu;fme;nt;"'elierk'ed 'itv.'iitX direcrV.^W'lu-i-e; 'JXo ,' •W'i; -' 'Gu ' 'frbrfi. :Hpl'e>,'* ',,4,'., ' '■,'■'..;'■ /'- Pictdre.'isiv'rHHCi: Pr<i(\ ?kiaciturraiV IS -.i.iLCfi lo ioJJ Aug. Riskin Will Produce Lucky Baldwin Biog •'■;; '" ,-^.;';; ;''''';'/'',!'Mbl1yWobd.,;,A'i(gj ,1.,-; \'X Meti'P'';handcd;. .'Kverel't Riskin the '|',;prodiiblipi.i..'' ;(;h;oi-(i': an;. t.iiC j' life •.'of'; tt-ucky;''Baldwin:'': fabuiouK'-'figui-e. .pf ■ J^eaniy' Cal'iiirnia'' tiiS'^^ ;&lW'rk;^ Gable 'i--and./:tsn.3 'TuiUier '/li'aye'; .beeii'j pen-: j':cHed';1nv;'b'tft..notv-de(l.i'Utcly',.':fc!^ tliC' ;:stair 'poles, ,'.' ■',,■■;■ '■':';.■( -r ■ i.'.; Pfet;ure.''ctaas'ed' pri'jactuaHeyeirts'ih i,l5alciwirt's..csreer;-'Opes ini'p';'prpdiiei' ;',;fion;;i«.' aiitfimii;;w/ith''>r'lavish' bucfgct:, 1'^ 1 , .., .,. ,' ,,' . : ',,. . .^ Lesser Morose Over Monks ■'.;"• '■ ';'',,' ..,; ..'liloljywpod, 'Avk:. 1;.. ..';.-'Cb'impan'ie«'t'J'.butiicsv .'ea.used' .b.v 'agt^'';. rebellioii'''.atUl/'i^ ' hold'fivg- u,p; ;,prod,(ic! inii ,011,' .Sol j^e.s,-;-' ,;er's 'f'J;rlheOn,iii'ig '''"I'ara;.:;)''-Icatiir'e,-',, '[ ,:"dld' :ch,};h'(iy, w'cary - of 'his;- l l'-year ;'filn) '^carcer.'.. ; i-ebi'lied' 'and. bit ■'■hi.s. tcai'pci-,'. ',Nb.-iV,; cli;ifi)p,' 8,: ltir.ee-'yeai'.-. 'olcl,.'tools';- 'pir(''i[tribfiia..;and ^pa.-^srri oh',. 'Now 'Lester. ij:;^;ltiok!ri.g' for ; ?iiiblhcr' isini,an,,sta-r;;;;'-' '■;■','.:.,','':,' ":'':,:' i;■-„..':..'":