Variety (Mar 1946)

DEMAND FAR MORE H'WOOD PROD. INDIES UKE: 'iKE MORE FIX' Minneapolis, March 5. Nufflorous extended loop first- runis make increased Hollywood urodgcftion imperative so that neigh- borhood and suburban exhibitors shill not suffer from continuous oroduct shortages, declares North Central Allied, independent cxhibi- tots group here, which is callinfi upon Hollywood '"to make more pictures." ,\ Increased production of pictures alone can alleviate the present plight of independent neighborhood and suburban exhibitors in Minne- apolis and St. Paul, according to President Bennie Berger of North Centrat. Strong, product and booni ■boxoflicp times arc anything but an unmixed blessing for these theatre owncrii, he as.sei-ts.- "As a result of the succession of ace boxoflice pictures and peak piihlic puifhasing power, holdovers have become the rule for 'A" pic- tures in the Twin Cities," Berger points out. "It's seldom that a picture doesn't stay at least two weeks at its fii-frt downtown standi liv consequence, there are many weeks when only two 'A' chaiiges aie made in the loop. This makes tor periodic product sliortascs in the neighborhoods and causes a liardship lor the inde- pendent neighborhood exhibitor. ■ "Independent exhibitor costs are increased because it becomes necesr sary to buy more companies' product and individual pictures. Many weak attractions have to be used and the general average of business is low- ercd." - ■ . Berger argues that if Hollywood production is inci-ca.scd the addi- tional pjcliiro.s will serve as a brake on holdovers and the loop tir.<it-run houses will be unable to resist the pressure lor playdates. The resultant jam or pilc-vip of pictures will b<; ot such proportions a.<3 to make :t incumbent upon the circuits operat- ing the downtown fir.st-run situa- tions to limit the holdovers to the utmost minimum possible, be bcr ■, lievcs. ■ , In Minneapolis and St. Paul, the clearance on a picture starts after it leaves Us lUst stand, regardless how long its downtown first-run . extends and this has helped to relieve the situation here somewhat, it's pointed out. With this setup, increjised Hollyj,rood production would be all the more helpful in this particular situation, Berger ■ believes.- ■ ■ RKO to Try Out Mex. Plant Hollywood, March 5. RKO will send its "Honeymoon" troupe, with William Keighley di- recting, to Mexico City to make the first u.se of its new Ghurubusco studios for ai^ American picture. Indoor sequence.: will be filmed in the studio and outdoor shots around the Mexican capital. Filmmg starts March 11, with Joseph Gotten, Shirley Temple and Guy Madison in top roles- ; , Russe Won't Divvy AGFA Color Film With U.S., British Hollywood, March 5. Ar.FA plant, the only major color- fain laboratory on the European continent. IS being operated by Bus- sia, although the plant- and the sur- rounding town of Wolfcn. Germany, weie liberated by American troops. Tliis news was disclosed by Randal Terraiieaii. currently in Hollywood to inspect this country's new dcyel- oiimonts in film technique and color process. He is president of George Humphries & Co.," Lld^ one of Eng- land's four important film labora- iories.- He. said: , "When the Americans' first went jnlo Wolfen they made a cursory technical report on AGFA, but since the Russians took over the town neither the Americans nor the Brit- ish have been able to learn any more about AGFA'S color process. "From the few German films we captured during the war we know that AGFA had developed an ex- cellent color process. It would have been advantageous to compare it more closely with the latest Ameri- can developments. Mo.st o£ us in the British, film' industry share Hollywood's opinion that all films will eventually be made in color. Pioduclion of color films in England is Kreatly limited because the indus- try there has only four Technicolor cameras available; "Besides Teduiicolor, we ha\'e only one color-process- plant, the British Tri-Color Co., which has tnadc some progress during the past few years. Still, we look to Amer-: ica. where film research* and techni.r cal development always have and alwiivs will be in the. lead." RKO REWRITES SCRIPT A LA COTTEN'S IDEAS Hollywood, March 5. "Honeymoon," Shirley Templc- Josoph Gotten co-starrer, is being rewritten following Cotten\s refusal to make the film. RKO. which is to produce the picture, did not disclose nature of changes, but it is under- wood that tliey arc in line with Cot- ten's objection.s, and he is still ex- pected to play the male lead. Gotten meanwhile is under sus- pension for turning down the role Both stars arc to move over On loan- out from Selznick. How Abort Tliose $2.(l(liMl The ma.ior indu.stry's yen to return to more B's. as expressed here- with, is given still another fillip by the .Tackson Park (Chi) decision and the potentialities of the anti-trust suit due for a decision in N. Y. Federal Court. These rulings may be the mo.st immediate reasons to cut dowi\ on so many $2.-$3,000,000 productions, and make the.se the exception rather than the rule, which has been the case in these inflated boxoffice years the past few seasons. It's always been the majors' argument that only by having assured" theatre outlets, via their own chain-attiliatcd cinemas, could the studios undertake making these costly pix. The affiliated circuits are insur- ance for these heavy inve.stment.s. Q'n the other hoHct..if .the .in^ reins as . an economic measure, made cautious because of uncertainty of theatre outlets, the cheating on production may ultimately hurt all exhibi- tors. As pix become cheaters, the b.o. right down the lino may well be affected. , ■ ■ . Comes still another thought as regards these court rulings. That is, they may not affect the majors and indies as strongly as might be expected (unless divorcement is c.omplete>, The rulings, in allowing an indie to bid for production agiunit a major; mean that whoever pa3's . the highest gets the A'-prodiict. far pre-release or "A" runs. It's rea- sonaljlc to assume that the afIilialod theatre may be forced to over- pay tor an affiliate's ■film---and be in better position to do so; on the theory of taking from one pocket into another.. . And to contradict this theory, one of the major arguments in the anti-trust case defense in New York was that Paramount's partners, for instance, wei'e notoriously frugal in bidding for Par picture prod- uct, since the Par pardsdidn't feel like that at all. Abel. U and UWP to Build 31 New ExchaKges. Separate Entrances, Common Sbping 'Strainer' 275G BaOy Fee Hollywood, March 5. International is allocating $275,000 for an advertising and exploitation campaign on "The Stranger," its last picture for release through RKO, Current production, "The Dark Mirror," will be International's first rel;ase through United World Pic- ■tures. ,• • ALPERSON'S2DFOR20TH ALSO AN ANIMAL TALE Another animal story will be next on production sked of Edward L. Alper.sOn, v. hose "Black Beauty" is slated for release by 20th-Fox this spring. New pic will be "Beautiful Joe." I'lom a prize-winning Humane Society novel oC many years ago. Isabel Stewart Way is now working on the treatment on the Coast, "Joe" IS story as seen through the eyes of a do.«. as "Beauty" is first- person hor.'je yarn. "Beauty " is the initial pic under the deal by Alper- son to turn In si.\ indie produttioiis to '201 h for relca.sc in 30-month period. Other properties being prepared for filmmg under the deal are "Helen's Babies' and "Sheppcy," latter a Somerset Maugham play, whichwas produced in London and later had a short run on Broadway. •f : Universal..will begin, just as soon as Government regulations permit, construction of 31 new^ exchange' buildings in key cities, throughout the country to house its own branches and those of its affiliate^ United World Pictures. Tom. Mur- ray, of U's branch operations de- panment, is currently choosing this sites. It is hoped^ as far. as possible, to bo installed in the new buildings by Jan. 1. Deal tor the new .structures ha.s been made with a Cleveland real; estate firm, whioh. will. actually own thorn. They, will be ;.b.uilt to; U- UWP specifications and the two firms will occupy them on long- term leases. Fuller Construot'on Co... of New York, hp.s been awardecl the contract lor their erection. Arrangement, so far as individual conditions in each city permit, will be to have threo-story buildings with Universal's offices on the sec-; Olid floor and UWP's on the third, each reached 'iy a separate entrance. Ground floors; will be. for shipping and inspection, which will be a joint Ur^UWP operation. In a few cities, such as Indian- apolis and Boston: where U owns its cxhange buildings, complete new structures Will not be erected,, but present ones will be completely (Continued on page 22) Ms' Rings the BeU In 27 Foreign Tongues It's "Bells of St. Mary's"—in 27 dialects—as the best pic bl 1945, ac- cording to the Foreign Language Press Film Critics' Circle of New \orl>,, representing papers published in 27 difTercnt tongues, which made the "best" award to Kobert Mochrie. v.p. of RKO, for "Bells" -on WNYC, K Y., Monday (4) night. . Ingrid Bergman was laureled' as best actress for her work in "Bells.' Spellbound" and "Saratoga Trunk," *'"h Ray Milland getting the male ^^•l•eath for his "Lost Weekend" characterization. Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett won "best screen- Play" honors for "Weekend."' William Edlin, editor of the N. Y. PRC Buys Surplus War Material to Build Lot Hollywood. March 5. PRC is takin.!» advantage of . the ■jale of surplus war supplies to step up its program of .studio con.struc- tion and modernization. To date studio enii.ssanes have bought 220.- 000 feet of used lumber, quantities of hardware and other building supplies. ■ Construction is being rushed to provide production facilities for the company"s cxfianded filming pro- gram for 1946-47, Meanwhile, studio rcp.s are attending all Government property disposal sales, wherever they are held. Raw Film Stock Whether the raw t;;ock shortage was on or off continued a mystery this week With conflicting reports from distribs and laboratories on the availability of stock. While several labs maintained that the pinch was on without letup, others said that, for the time bciiig, they were experiencing no difficulty in obtaining raw stock. Meanwhile, officials representing raw stock manufacturers, conceding that the supply was not yet meeting all de- mands, predicted that the shortage would end in 45 days. Lab spokesffliin salcl that no of- ficial word on the future situation liad seeped down from the manu- lacturers. In labs still feeling the pinch, officials were openly skepti- cal of manufacturers' prediction". To back their feeling that "this was just another of those promises." Ihcy pointed out past Statements- which had the shortage ending three months ago. Some officials said that the ra.,ii g of a light situatiohiin the past few weeks was. in the main, due' to the several holiday.s which, cut clown expansion. Vari,- consumption of raw stocli during the | ^^^^ producers who release through short weeks. These officials could .. 0 light ahead in the immediate UA DICKERS ROACH FOR PIX OUTPUT, LOT SPACE Hollywood, March 5. Edward ,C. Rattcry, United Artists prexy. is conferring with Hal Roach oh a deal Xor-distiybuting 1^ leaturos, for which Roach recently , allocated. $.■1,000,000 on his 1946-47 program. Unriei-stood RKO is also bidding for releasing rights. Raftcry is al.^o said to be dicker- i ing for rental facilities for UA pro- \ diiccrs on the Culver City lot where i Roach is Spending nearly $1,000,000 RETIi Of B'Sf With the economies of studio, dis- tribution and exhiljition operation demanding it, large*scale return to production of B films by major studios is foreseen for next season. Tipofl's include Joseph M. Schenck!s ., announcement last week that 20th- Fox \yill up its production output by 10 picture.s next year, and N. Peter "Rathvon'.s open avowal that RKO will have a share of the sec- ondary product on its schedule. Tilt in the number of B's during the next tew years no indication of accompanying cuts in either quality or quant ty o[ each studios' big pictures. Rather, it is an immediate reflection of the expected easing of rfuwslock restrictions and an sn- ticipatcd expansion of studio fa" cilil'cs. .■ ■ ■ > ■ ■ ^Aside from the immediate physical ta<.tor.s ol raw film and stage space- in accounting for the upturn in number of secondary productions, the trend is paradoxically hinged to the continuing quality of A: flicks* . It if the jamup in wchibition • brought about by -^engthy sojourns in fir.st-run houses, of top pix that is an important influence in increas- ing major studio's B output. . Many subsequent run houses, including numerous: important gros- sers, have been pushed into reissues, repeat dates and minor indie prod" uct because the pictures they should be getting are -delayed in -the top ... runs. Kven many of the houses controlled by the Big Five have become increasingly dependent on product of Republic, PRC and Monor giTiTi Majors figure these are rent- als which could be going ,intp their own coffers if they had th<B picture.* to fill the playdates. So the trend to B's on their .part, of course, may well cut into receipts of the minor ■ companies. . Can Handle Froducr Upswing in quantity of .films is also held desirable by the majors because it will nake for greater efficiency of studio and distribution operators, particularly when war- time building restrictions are oft and expansion can go on without inliibitlon. Exchanges and home- offices are geared to handle ft greater number of pix "than the 18 that Warne'r Bros.; on. 22 that 20th will distribute this year, for in- stance. Greater number of pix naturally brings down the overhead per each and, of couree, results in belter profit statements. Same is true of the studios. Right now, with no building having been permissible since start of the war, most Of them, are well jammed up, but ' when space propo.sition cases, nut aiiplicable to each, production can be brought down considerably bv larger quantity of output. Rawstock and manpower were the facets principally, responsible for mo.>it studios cutting'down on their production When the war got under- way. There was a great publicity hullabaloo about "the end of the B's" at that time. It was much less than the end, however, being mbre a trimming in number by most studios ot the product regularly budgeted below $300,000 or $350,000, booi*t .' Schreiber Back West Lew Schreiber. exec a.'a^istant to Dairv! Zanuck at the 20th-Fox slu- dioi,. Who ha.s been In New York for the past 10 da.vs, returns to the Coast today (Wednesday). . „ Trip east was an. annual affair to Jewish Day, chairman of the Itnguai '< see the Broadway shows and huddle Pre-is cricks, made the presentation. ' with li o, toppers. .^ee future unless a sudden supply came through. Several dis- tribs who have been ahead ol the "ame on prints now cxprr;-< Icar;- {hat they, will lie caughtv short if their backlog continues to dwindle. CoL Hits Film Peak Hollywood, Murch j Pioduclion peak for 194() at Co- ' himbia will be reached dunn;; March with seven new pictures and one holdover from February. Car- , ned over from last month is "The ' Jolson Story." | Newcomers are "Gallant Journey.' "The Return of Rusty," "The Coflin." '•His Face was Their Fortune." "Down to Earth," "Rsndc'vous m Rio" and "Btoudie Know? Best.". UA are up against it for studio space. Total of IV indie producers have made unsuccesstul attempts to rent space in the Roach studio. Mean- while several.-more have tried to ■gain admission into the Charles Chaplin lot but have t)een turned, down. Headaches are also reported on the General Service lot where the management is having trouble CittinK production schedules numerous cornwitments.; , into. Woolf Heading Home Hollywood, March 5. .lohn Woolf. "head of General Films of London which distributes , Utu\ersal films in Britain, after a 'two-week visit here, headed for 1 homo via New York on Monday (4 J. I Wool!' spfiit liis time here meeting th.e Universal personnel and seeing ' its new product, , FILM WAGE EARNERS STILL TOP CAL COIN : Sacramento, March 5: Motion picture wage earners are .still the highest paid of all Cali- fornia industry workers, according : to the California Labor Statistics Bulletin, which reports $80.87 aver- age weekly wa?^s for JTanuary. com- pared with $75.17 for the same month last . year. Nearest weekly average is $35.71. going to worlce' s of water, light and power coni;;aii:es. KERNEE JOmS GOLDWYN HoUywood, March 5. Lew Kerner. -associated with the William Morris" agency before b« . joined the Army, has been ap- pointed cliict talent exec by Samuel Goldwyn. ■ :. Goldwyn also named Silvia LSrd- I ncr as assistant literary chief.