Variety (Nov 1944)

^Mliiesclay, November 22, 191* PfiRIETY PICTURES t INDIES MAY BREAK FROM MPPDA Major Co. Execs Find They Can No Longer Invest in Indie Fix Deals Major company toppers are step- 4- ping down strongly on execs making ' Outside .deals with independent pro- ducers, whereby substantial financial aid is provided in return, for a par- ticipation of profits. •'/.' At least two execs, with major producer-distributor chains have severed connections with their com- panies during the past year 'as-a.-re- sult of. outside deals of this type..•"■'.,'. While execs have risked their own capital on a legitimate basis, eOm : paiiy toppers. have taken exception to outside ventures on grounds that such activities might be misundei:- gtood if thR .lifnis in which the execs jhave an interest, happen to be booked by the. circuits with which, they arc connected. One exec was recently advised ^h»t unless he, terminated his connec- tion with an indie producer he could not continne with the circuit Exec, figuring the tax situation, preferred to step out of his circuit position to giving up hisjindie production ven- ture. Similar situation involved an- other circuit exec, earlier;, this year. Brandt Circuit Now Buys for 120 N.Y.-NJ. Houses; No. 1 Combo : The Brandt circuit; operating in Greater N. Y. and surrounding ter- ritory, whose film buyer-booker, Joe ingbler. is regarded in sales and ex- hibition circles as one of the most astute in the industry, is threaten- ing to "control; .the vast majority of Independent accounts serviced out of the New York-New Jersey ex- changes of the distributors. . During the past week the Brandt circuit, a buying organization for Independents in addition to opera- tion of the theatres controlled by th«: Brandt Bros., raised its total on buying to 120 theaatres, which is the largest in the country. By around. 80 houses, within a comparatively few years it has passed the Co- '_ Operative Theatres of Michigan. ' buying-bnyking combine of 100 houses which has. been in existence for many years, ,,'•.'• The Brandt * buying service was brought to a round total of 120 by the addition last week of the Otto Rettig houses in N. J., the Ormont, East Orange, and Windsor, West Orange. Nl J. Rettig has operated theatres independently close to 20 years but swung to Brandt, as others have to purchasing combines, be- cause of difficulties in getting, the kind of deals he wanted. Rathvon's D. C. to L. A. ,N. Peter Rathvon, RKO prexy, is scheduled to leave from Washington for the'-"Coast this weekend to hud- dle with Charles W. Koerner on studio problems. : . '-•.'•'. • Rathvon plans to leave N. Y Washington'•■ next Friday (24>, the Variety Club meet. for for Zevin and Hochstein In 'Boys From Chi' Mess To Be Sentenced Dec. 18 Isadore Zevin-former secretary to George E. Browne, convicted ex- president of the IATSE. and Harry Hochstein, former Chicago morals inspector, had their respective sen- tencing and trial adjourned on Mon- day 120) by Federal Judge Vincent L. Leibell in N. Y, until Dec: 18. Zevin was indicted for swearing falsely when questioned by the.special Federal grand jury-investigating the whereabouts of the special assess- ment fund of $1,500,000 collected from members of the IA. He pleaded guilty on the eve of the trial of the six Chicago mobsters and Louis Kaufman.' former business agent of Local 244. Motion Picture Projectionists union, for conspiracy to extort more than $1,000,000 from the movie industry. '.''', '■'"■":•■ The "Boys from Chicago" and Kaufman were convicted last De- cember. Each received 10-year prisos : sentences. Kaufman got a seven-year jail sentence. The seven are awaiting, decision on their ap- peal to the U. S, Circuit Court of AppealS from their conviction. '-, Hochstein was indicted after he told, the grand jury that certain of the Chicago mobsters and George E. Browne avid'-.Willie Bioff. Browne's former '■ personal representative, were not present at a house in Riyeiside. III., in 1934. According to Boris Kostelanctz, asst. U. S. attor- ney-general, who successfully prose- cuted the.seven last year. Hochstein lied. The . .Riverside house V- Was headquarters of , the mobsters, all former members of the old Al Capone mob, vVas rented and main- tained by Hochstein and it was there that they met aiid successfully planned the election of Browne to the presidency of the IA in 1934. Kostelanetz said. PROTEST ABOUT NEW FIRE EQUIPMENT IN BOSTON WORKS 100% Boston, Nov. 21. The newly installed emergency Are . floodlights: ' a safety measure introduced in all Hub. theatres fol- lowing the Coconut Grove disaster, got their first workout here this week when a small Are broke out on the panel board of the Loew's State theatre 4p black out .the electrical system -.' and more than, proved their salt. ■'. ■;•;.; '; : ---} : - ";;:;■: -JMwe than 1.500 people were see- ing "Together Again" when the fire broke out and plunged the theatre in darkness; The immediate switch- ing on of the battery operated flood- lights placed on the proscenium arch facing the audience is held responsi- ble [or preventing, any. sign of panic. Fire was brought- under control'■ wlfh only $200 damage, but Charles .E. Kurtzman. division 'manager" of Loew's,, announced that the. audi- ence's money would be refunded in order to clear the house 'as a pre- cautionary measure, .';'■' ' 7 KODAK PLANT NEAR PARIS IN OK SHAPE . s; Paris. Nov. 10. Eastman Kodak plant at Vincennes. pear. Paris, has escaped , war damage, of any-considerable amount, which is important,., since U. S. Aimers must depend on' this plant for film stock needed .in turning out dupes of origi- nal prints shipped to France for dis- tribution. Shortage of. coal 'will probably delay opening up ..opera- tions, but once normal shipments, of fuel are resumed, understood that Eastman will have its factory run- ning again. '- '■'-,'.• ',■■' Procedure of American distributors is to ship in ' purple,:.prints and then make duplicate prints for the number of theatre accounts requiring each subject'.'. '.Until .-stock and laboratories of American interests are operating, distribution, w-ill be a hit-and-miss affair,- : -..'. --;-:'•, > ••' ;''•" .'. '■ ■:'.'; V'; UA May Stall'Rebecca' Reissue for New DOSfix Move to break sharply away from the Motion Picture Producers & Dis- tributors of America (Hays office) is brewing among dissident producers and distributors within the motion picture industry dissatisfied with in- fra-trade representation and prac- tises... Independents such as Sam- uel Goldwyn. ; Mary Pickford. Charles Chaplin, Walt. Disney and Davio O. Selznick, reinforced by the swelling crop ot other indepen- dent producers, , are 'demanding strong , action. Withdrawal of United Artists. . distrib-member, as well as producers who are members of the Hays organization, may .re- sult, Understood that Hays office toppers have been advised of. the repercussions within the trade;,with Miss Pickford believed among those most strongly protesting against pre- vailing conditions,-,' Simultaneously, the independents, through their own organization, the Society of Independent Motion Pic- ture Producers; are planning to in- vade the field for distributor-mem- bers and are planning to change the name of .the SIMPP to Society of Independent Motion Picture Pro- ducers & Distributors. , Such a move would apparently be: aimed not Only at non-theatre-operating producer- distribs currently in the field, but as preparation to bring in hew- dis- tribution companies which are ex- pected to come into existence after the war, , and possibly Sooner: v. Theatres the Crux Indications are that the sharp cleavage of interest among Hays of- fice members is due primarily to the divergent positions of non-theatre and ' theatre-controlling factors in the industry: Independents, from accounts, feel that closer cooperation from the theatre-controlling com- panies' should be afforded fo'fcO- members of an all-industry .organi- zation in the matter . of providing playing, time for independent films. The: booking bottleneck, due to long runs in key theatres through- out the country, has resulted in the unusual situation of a superabun- dance of product availability for the first runs and a reported shortage of product in many subsequent, 'sttv atio'ns, Indies' Pix Pile Up '.•■"; With the. film output from inde- pendent producers at record propor- tions the situation, has. of course, become acute. 'Independent output has been piling up w hile no solution to the booking jam in the keys has been evolved so far. ../ ... While major producer-distributors with theatre affiliations.- -are. also objiged to "keep negatives 1 on the shelf-due to". the booking .jam. the financing arvangeemenls of most.in- dependents areoiv a. different basis and ; quick . distribution is more urgent than for the majors. The latter, also, obviously in a better position, due to their theatre opera- tions. • ■'■'■;•' :'•::'■■:;'-' '; "• • Increase in independent- output also further complicates the already critical raw stock shortage.. Warners recently rumored once more as .withdrawing fr'o*fii Hays membership, has not pulled out. WB. however;, was at. one. time believed to have been out- of the Hays of- fice for' about .a year; before: return- ing . Differences, which, inciden- tally are still;~. understood to ex- ist, in case 'of - Warners were - re- ported to be in connection vvi.th public relations and .other MPPDA policy, rather than inlra-lrade. Metros Carey Wilson Cues Necessity To Gut AH Film Prod, Costs Pronto Wallis to Join Hays Hal WaJJ is-Joe Hazen have made application for member- ship in the Motion Picture Pro- ducers* Distributors of Amer- ica; .. -..<;' ; ■'' They are represented at present, though indirectly, through their Paramount releasing deal. They seek individual producer mem- bership, however.- * David : O. Selznick is understood confabbing withUnited Artists execs on question of reissuing "Rebecca" m the near, future While Selznick has a distribution Blumberg's Checkup Nate Blum berg, , president of Uni- versal, entered the Fifth Avenue has-! Pital Monday (20) for his annual! deal for the reissue under his old physical checkup. Homeoffiec re-l .pact .v.-ilh UA. possibility is that the ports that it is routine. '-,-; " .1 film may not be released by UA at This is, the first hospital checkup i. this tini.e since Selzniek has several since Blumherg underwent a minor-' new pictures either ready or soon to operation about a year ago, ; . he ready for.distribution. :'..'•'. ■'. FREELANCER PACTS GET SCRUTINY BY T-MAN Hollywood.-.Nov. 21. T>csi-ur\ Dept. sent A. D.Bufoid, chief .'.of its Stabilization Unit, to Hbliyvs-ood to -iron out the problem .of ficelance contracts for actors,.di- rectors and writers in the fi'tu in- dustry. • -■-,;' : -i ■ ; •?''; '..';' ':' Government, has agreed to post- pone adoption of. its new; regulations which would have required, prior Treasury approval dri ' practically■■ all twelance deals,. Not only tKe free- lancer.- but the studios protested, thai such regulations would seriously in- ter!' ,e w.t:; product,or-. 'Wilsons' 700G Gross In N. Y. Theatre Area Crowds 'Bernadette' . With .dales yet to go. 'Wilson", has' already grossed $700,000 in theatres serviced by the N, Y. 20th-Fox ex- change: This is close 'to the $750,- 000 taken iii by '•Bernadette" in 300 playdates, all-time, high for any pic- ture sold by this branch. Previous high for 20th's N/'Y. office,was hear to $500,000 grossed by Cones Island" in 800 dales, '. - Both "Wilson" and "Bernadette" engagements have.been at advanced admissions. '-"While '-Wilson" W'ill go on indefi- nitely at advanced prices and . 60- 40% deals. "Bernadette*'' will, prob- ably be .withdrawn before the first of the year and sent ph general .re- lease next': Easier. When it and "Wilson" sji-e .sent' pn general re- lease, at regular admissions, aiid lower percentages, the long halves, carrying higher point values, rather than the weekday shorts, will be sold. -v JACK WARNER WEST, H. M. BACK IN N Y. ■ Although .east recently. Harry M. Warner, presi.clenl of WB. .returned over the weekend for a three-week slay to huddle with, home-office ex- ecutives on general matters.: Meantime, Jack Warner, w ho has ■ been resting at -Saratoga Springs, ! N, Y-. leaves there via Albany for j California on Saturday (25i, Charlie I Einfeld, who had planned going j back west before this.' remained oh , when word was received' that H. M Warner was coming east.- - Systematic control of film produc- tion costs, particularly . in etirtailina shooting time,; where' the ".greatest expense is incurred, is; reported uu- der. way at Metro and, virtually all major studios, according to Carey Wilson, producer of the "Andy Hardy" and "Dr. Gillespie" series for Metro. . .' ,-.■'.'-'' Wilson, while pointing out that there is no, panicky cost-cutting in the studios, told "Variety" that ma-- joi> are facing realities, that the war boom obviously cannot be ex- pected to last forever; that produc- ers and directors must gear costs in line with a potential dip in b.o. when hostilities-end. -. '. ': ;,'■:' ",- ; .", High negative costs, predicated on current wartime.spending, are being pruned considerably , in line, with general business conditions which economists predict will likely pre- vail after the wai ". ■ .According to business ana I v sis , business will still remain. 40-50'« above the 1929 peak but possibly 30- 40', under tht; present wartime peak;. .;;; ; . ;•■.'; ;. .•'' ■':,...'• , ■ '■: ,'' Bigges, .savings: can bbyiodsl.v be made in cutting down, oil 'shoaling time .which industry execs have variously estimated at from $10,000 ■to $15,000 daily for "A" product. Wilson, incidentally, is in N. Y, to complete plans for production of - two . "A" : films to which he is as- signed. He plans to produce "Post- man Always Rings Twice." - with Lana -Turner, and "The.-.''Common- Sin:" Wilson hopes to get Van John- soil for; ."Sin." though latter is in such demand among Metro produc- ers that there is some question- whether he will be available for the Wilson production.; , . Possibility that the "Dr. Gillespie"' scries, which Wilson has been pro- ducing, may: before long be clisron-- 'timied for the .same : reason, si nee higher budgeted production may're- sult in- so many calls on . Johnson's linie that he may not be available for "Gillespie" either. : Lack of Support Pix Creates Aussie Snag Sydney,! Nov. 21.; Reputed dearth of suppoi'ting films is developing into' a headache for major Australian exhibitors. Aussie patrons demand dual program's and it's no dice, trying -to. educate them to "single bills. The du.ajcr problem is credited for the recent exclusive deal, by Tloy.ts -circuit -with. PRC. .Pact was made by Ernest Turnbull. hcici of the cir- cuit, which has 120 city -and na.be houses. to get PRC product as sup- porting film for whole chain: First product is due from. N. Y. this week. STURGES-HUGHES' INDIE UNIT LOOKS SET VIA PAR Preston Sturges ■ a-n d Howard: Hughes have about completed'nego- tiations for an independent unit deal; with : Paramount,, Pact is 'reported ready for inking. Understood that formula will, be : similar to the arrangements hiade by Par with Hal Wallis and B. G. De Sylva. Flattop Minus Battles Hollywood. Nov. 21. Tale Of an airplaiie carrier's,career I in Pacific battles, without a. single i war scene, will form the. basis of; the first picture-to be made by Ralph Wheelwright under his. producer i contract at. Metro. . Picture, still untitled, will contain- ( eight separate personal stories all I ; centered -aboard the carrier,, some- , i thing like the format of "Grand i ; Hotel.". ■''.."-. }; , ;:•: '; Willkie Memorial Bldg. ! Freedom . Hoitse. , .\Yw York, is] sponsor of p'laii to establish a Wendell ; L. Willkie Memorial Bldg, "to house | organizations and committees seeking to advance 'the" ' causes served-, by him.' Memorial, to late ,20th-Fox board chairman' to be established "at an early, date.''', v . ' -. Sumner Welles is. honorary chair- manof fund, with Spyros Skoiiras. 20th-Fox proz, as a committee mem- ber. . , '. '■;'■'-:'". ■ '.. v." . ,', TrailB JlArtt .l{c'(siii|.f«-ii: . ",.,' .- l oi;.vi>Kii. n\ mia HKAI.AX- I'lllllixlM-il nVrirCv Ity VAUIliTV. Iiic Sid fiillvt-iiiifui:, .|'rCK'i'l«'in Wt-sl 40th Si., ke-w-.VwK (!>• X'. V . tit'irscuir iio>- Annual,- .-, »io toi-uign . t: : Single t oj,:. * , , , , , . ... I'- I'imiN Vol. ir,«; no No. 11.