Variety (Oct 1944)

Wednesday, "October 4, 1944 PICTURES BRIT. FIX FACE BOOKING JAM Loew's Ties 3 Home-Office Execs To 5-Year Termers; Wage Tilts Loaw's, Inc.; has reportedly tied ♦■ Up three executives, operating out of the New York hom« office, to flva-year contracts. Understood that ierm pacts have been set for Leopold Friedman-, general counsel; Charles £. Moskpwitz.'--'general' manager of Xoew's New York theatres, and Joe Vogel. manager of Loew's out-of- town theatres. Salaries of these execs, from ac- counts, will be tilted to around $100,000 annually. Attorney Fried - Irian's boost is paid, to amount to approximately $16,000. ■':'-..•■ Friedman, Moskowitz. and Vogel have been with Loew's for over 25 years. Trio has in recent 'months' assumed added duties on the execu- tive committee set up to handle ad- ministrative matters, relieving some Of the older company toppers of a portion of their duties. Policy of tying executive person- lie! to home offices with contracts lias been generally accentuated at all major companies during the war years, .with company heads seeing this as the only way in which trained, experienced and successful execs can be retained for the main- tenance of successful operations in Cole Favored by SWG Hollywood, Oct. 3, : Lester Cole, acting president of the Screen Writers Guild since the resignation of Mary C. McCall, Jr.. is favored for retention of that job at the annual election Nov. 8. Nomination committee, headed by Hugo Butler, consists of .Frances Goodrich. Lew R. Foster, Arthur Kober, Michael Kanin, Harry Kur- nitz,Ande Lamb, Leonard Lee, Mar- garet Roberts and Allan Scott: every phase of the business. Com t I America; warners is pany heads, noting losses in the pro- with its dubbing that duction division of the industry, have made more determined efforts to hold On to manpower in adminis- trative posts. '.. ' '-. V In view of competitive, bidding and the tax situation, term Contracts and pension plans, the latter for both high and lower paid employees, have been found effective in offset- ting inter-industry raiding to a large extent. REPORT BANK MAY SET AUSSIE DEAL Sydney, Oct. 3, Australian +' film circles hear there's a chance that J. Arthur Rank niay enter production here via a <ieal ^yith Cinesound Productions, 'fne of Greater Union Theatres' sub- aids.. IJeal purportedly is being handled yia Norman B. Rydge, managing director of Greater Union. Bank's London Lease London. Oct. 3. J, Arthur Rank has leased Pa ra - mount's Carlton theatre from David Rose, Par's managing director in ■^Sreat Britain, and will use it for pic- tures. House opens under new setup ■sometime in November with "Henry the Fifth." $2,000,000 production made by Two Cities Films. It is in for a minimum of 20 weeks. "•; , '. WB May Be First In L-A Dubbing Although Metro formally an- nounced its Spanish-language dub- bing .program . first. Warner Bros., which officially revealed its Spanish dubbing lineup last week, may be the first American major company to release dubbed products in Latin- | America; Warners' is so far along 'My Reputa- tion," Barbara Stanwyck starrer, may be ready for the Latin-American mar- ket early in January. Film is not set for U. S. release until Febru- ary. Metro, which had been going along well on several, including "White Cliffs." has encountered some delays. . ■ - . '. -.'- -.- - .-• Warners,' which has been quietly setting 'tip a stock company of 40- Spanish-speaking players on the Coast, also has acquired a full staff of technicians who had handled dub- bing in Spain and France. Luis Bun- uei. who worked for Warners in Spain, is in charge of the Spanish- dubbing program for WB. Company now has seven forthcoming features in work on the new sound-track pro- duction alignment. They include, besides ''Reputation." "Corn Is Green." Bette Davis starrer: "Sara- toga Trunk" (Gary Cooper >;• "To Have and to Have Not" (Humphrey Bbgar.t): "Roughly Speaking" (Rosa- lind .Russell); "Objective Burma." i Errol Flynn), and "Rhapsody in. Blue.'' based on life of George Gershwin. Other majors working on . Span- ish-sound track versions, soon will reveal their plans. T. Dorsey to Trial In LA. Nov.14 on Solo Rap Los Angeles, Oct. 3. Indictment charging Tommy Dor- sey, Pat Dane and Allan Smiley with felonious assault on Eddie Norris was dismissed for lack of sufficient .'•viden.ee-.in Superior Court. Trial on, the other indictment, in- volving assault on Jon Hall, will be held Nov., 14 before Superior Judge Arthur CniniV ... ■:':' .' ■'.'- : '.■'- Prof. Sez M-G Filched His Yarn, Sues for 150G Los Angeles. Oct. 3. Samuel Barsli, former language prof, at University of California, filed suit against Metro for $150,000, charging plagiarism in. the filming of "Heavenly Music," musical short that won last year's Oscar: Professor declares the snort was based on his own play, "A Danger- ous Affair." to which the film com- pany had access in 1940. Mono Delays Sesh to Set New Financing Annual stockholders meeting of Monogram, now slated for Oct. 18. likely will be postponed for. several j weeks because trie company wants I to have new'financing set before the 'session is held; New financing pro- gram would be. submitted-to share- holders for approval. New financial setup.would involve • $1,500,000 to St.750,000. it's reported.' , Warners Lands Plaza As New Zealand Showcase • Wellington. N. Z.. Sept. .1. •.' . Plaza theatre, Christ church, oper- •ated by Christchurch Cinemas. Ltd., which includes Fullers and J-..C. Wil- liamson Picture Corp., has become show-window for the Warner Bros: product in, this zone area, starting with "Casablanca." '.-•■ Plaza has switched from dual to solo policy. Majority of New Zea- land;cinemas play single policy now, tew exceptions being the western houses', '■ ;-.i'" •■■ :: ;; .; : ' h- ■■■ ', BENCHIEY ON THE BOUNCE Hollywood. Oct 3, Robert Benchley ' needs a . motor- cycle to cover all his current film 'assignments, •'. •■•'• ■ -. •il -. Colun'mist-aclor is dividing his time among "Weekend at the WaV Col. Sachems Huddle Hollywood, Oct. 3. "-. Harry Colin,- Columbia chief, goes into conference here this week with home office execs on plans for forth-. •coin-1 g product, - ■ a ' In town for Die huddles are Abe Montague, Abe Schneider. Jack DELAYS IN U. S. EXHIBITION SEEN Tight playdate situation, affecting both U. S. theatre-operating as well as non-theatre owning producer- distributors, may also radically af- fect Anglo-American film trade re- lations. Barring a sudden dip in grosses which would call for shorter runs, British product scheduled for U, S. release, such as the J. Arthur Rank, films being set through United Artists, may . be delayed in getting general distribution at this time. While big-budgeters, it is claimed, are bound to get playdates, there are currently many instances where U. S. product "cannot be booked promptly owing to the product jam in key situations. Difficulty has been reported even with product from chain-affiliated distribs. Major company execs claim they have been obliged to hold back product and that they cannot get into their own theatres with big budgeters in some cases. - . • While affecting producer-distribu- tor chains, the product jam has,, of course, hit the non-theatre owning- distribs even "more And. in this category. ;of course, British product would also be affected. One of the biggest grosser? of the year, David O. Selznick's "Since You Went Away." was until recently out of an important key . such as Los Angeles, due to the prior arrange- ments for playing off -20th-Fox, Metro and other product in that sector. . . . '.'.- ■ •' ;.'■.;" : ■ "Since" has finally been set and is now reported slated to open in L.A. around Oct. 14 at the Ritz, Egyptian and Los Angeles theatres. Some time was originally believed avail- able for "Since" at the Wilshire and United :Artists theatres. L.A:, but this was lor a strictly limited period oiily regardless of the grossing probabilities. "Since You Went Away" and "Wilson" are reported being held back in Chicago due to the product jam in Loop theatres there. Un- derstood that Balaban and Katz will be.- 'unable to play "Since" and "Wilson" Until other bookings are taken care of. No definite date has yet been fixed for. these two. pic- tures, it i.s reported. ' The product jam in numerous key situations was, at one time, rapidly ieading to a shgytKaw r dicated Wide repercussions. Some independent product was being moved out of preferred playing time in major chains, due to unexpected long runs of major company product; Apart from the domestic powder- keg in which the playdate situation is involved problem' will also be to avert. Anglo-American misunder- standings. With the Film Council in Britain currently agitating for better trade arrangements in con- nection with the U. S. market, some U. S.,trade leaders will seek to avert a head-on collision with powerful British .production - distribution - ex- hibition interests in order to keep open favorable conditions for dis- tribution of U.'S. product in Britain. Meantime,' while there has been some, discussion by major U. S. dis- tribs to limit runs .of pictures in key theatres, high negative costs demand minimum extended playoffs in the de luxe houses, 173 Mins. Running Time of Since* Figured to Cut Rentals $2,000, 'Bogey' and Bette Again Hollywood, Oct. 3. Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart will be teamed for the thLndLtime at Warners : as . co-stars in ' —Ethan Frome." Both players have single- tons to make before pairing in the Edith Wharton novel, to be produced by Henry Blanke. ■ Their former co-starrers were "Petrified Forest" and "Dark Vic- tory." - ' \' '.'.'' ' ': ]■ : Indie Fix Save Indie Exhibs -';-:.'; -. Minneapolis, Oct 3. Independent product is' proving a lifesaver for Twin City independent exhibitors who now feel that much Of it. has improved sufficiently; in quality during the past year not only to risk its playdatiug,- but also to bring boxoffice results occasionally. The- new source of supply is bridg- ing over occasional shortages at the neighborhood and suburban houses using a number of changes a week. These shortages have been caused by'the numerous loop extended run engagements, holding up first-run releases, and by curtailed major Hollywood produelioi); . With more independent product available and suitable, the independ- ents also are able to "bargain" more successfully with the major com- panies. The fact that the independ- ent producers are turning out greatly improved pictures thus has been a fine break in this respect for the exhibitors. As recently as two years ago, Twin City independents turned up their noses at independent product and rarely bought any picture outside of the major releases. Now Republic, P.R.C. and Monogram are getting a substantial number of bookings and it's no rarity for their pictures to j deliver at the boxoffice. ¥■ Long running time of "Since You Went Away." 1*73 minutes, will cost David O. Selznick from $2,000,000 to $2,500,000 in rentals in the do- mestic .market alone, it is estimated by distribution execs. While "Since" is proving one of the biggest grossers of this or many other seasons, the picture is not be- ing played at advanced' scales, and the running time arbitrarily re-' strict; the number of showings daily. One and two-hour waits for the picture in. many situations are reported common. Understood that United Artists reps, in endeavouring to get maxi- mum . returns for..' the picture, de- spite the handicap of its length, try- to set up earlier openings and later closings in theatres, wherever possi- ble. Some headway has also been re- ported in getting exhibs to establish slightly higher admission scales for matinee and morning attendance, or use of a single uniform 'night scale throughout the day * Despite references to the length of the picture by newspaper - film re- viewers so far. it has only served to draw additional business to theatres. The running time, however, is: proving a distinct hindrance to -'max- imum returns. Rentals will likely run over $7,000,000 domestic even under the hurdle of long running time, and refusal by the; major the- atre circuits to increase admission scales for the film. As result of op- position by majors to tilting the scales for "Since." the UA policy was set for subsequent; to play the picture at regular scales also. Long running time of ' Dragon Seed." 145 minutes, is also calculated as costly in estimating potential rev-, enue for Metro. Figured that on the Music Hall, N. Y-, run alone, a cut (Continued on page 38 i \ Eight New 'Governors! '.",- -'■''• Hollywood. Oct.. 3. : j Eight new members were elected ! to the board of governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts, and | Sciences for the coming year and. 10 old members were reelected. New Board consists-of: . Ronald Colrnan. Jean Hersholl and George Murphy, actors; Charles Bracket!. James Hilton and Mary McCall. Jr., writers; Michabl Curtis, .Mark'Sandrich.-and Sam Wood..di- rectors: Y: Frank Freeman. E. J. Ma'niiix. and. Waller Wanger.• pro- ducers; Hector. S. Dods. Farciot Eduart and. Thomas T. Moullon. sei-I. ences; .Nat W. Finston, music; Gor- donHollingshcad. short subjects, and Harry Brand, public relations. DISNEY INVITED BY AUSTRALIAN GOVT. Sydney. Oct. 3. Walt Disney has been invited to visit Australia before the war ends, yia a special invitation from W. Caldwell. Minister of Information, on behalf of the Aussie government. It's known that the government is extremely keen on idea of interest* .\merican and British 'film men in producing pictures Down Under. :-■ Tr.nle sr,iilc Todd Will Make His Own Pictures dorf." .".Duffy's Tavern." "Pan-Amer-j Cohiii Nate Spingold.. Vincent Bor- icana" and "It's in the Bag." 1 clli and" Lou Asto'r. i.f .--'•' ,'; , Hollyy. ood. Oct.. 3. Mil<c Todd jv going to make h', own. pictures .as'an indie producer, and "i.s organizing .his own- filn.- n-aking, unit and negotiating for a dJstf'ijuti'on outlet. ''Details' of the now Todd organiza- tion - will be disclosed before ' he shoves off for New. York next \yeok.' Meanwhile he will continue. Ills .stage production on Broadway At one time it' was- reported former Ambassador Joseph P. Ken- nedy would be associateci with him. ! Arthur Schwartz O.O.S Talent for Porter Biog While, east to ,powwow with Cole Porter biv the "Night and- Day',' (ten- tative title), .he Wariier Bros, biog of the songsmit.h, pioduccr Arthur Scrf^artz interviewed a flock, of tal- ent Michael Curti/, who is to di- I i'Cct: mearitijrie. went to New Haven to o.o Yale locations Scripters Charlie Hoffman and Leo Towhsehd j cam? cast with the produce! and di- I rector, who-had t,o prolong their | N Y soio.urnv -. • J Porter, .being on_a limitcd-sdjickLliLi because of his health, plus the "Seven Lively Arts staue assignment for. Billy, Rose. ; huddled . with the WB studio, people for limited sessions each day but; in general, okayed, the story outline... ' : •- '. Mo nty Wooilcy. the Yale prof turned actor, who tutored. Porter at Yale, came in. from Saratoga to sit, in also oiv the. po.wwows 'for any closcups on fhe/scrccn biog.. Orchestras .... Pictures ... ... Radio .,-i Radio Review.- Frank Scull.v Unit Review : -Vaudeville .. . War: Activitk" l>\II.V VAiill'lTY M ; ul,li»h.i-il >ii jjiil1y..M,'i.'.l li; liiiily Viuift; •ilfi 5* y^iir—SI 1.1(1. Vf<i;