Variety (May 1946)

Wednesday, May 1, 1946 P&RMETT •PICTURES 20 B'WAY PLAYS NOT PKED YET John Staid Off 'Amber'; Beefs On 'Ridnig' Cast; Peggy Commins Not HI' Hollywood, April 30. ♦ "Forever Amber" will start from •cratch after four weeks of shooting and take off again under ». new di- rector. Although production ol "Amber" at ZOth-Fox was supposed .tailed because of star Peggy Cum- mins' illness, it was learned yester- day that John M. SUM, director of the film, has been relieved of the chore because of his asserted "rid- ing" of film's cast during the past four weeks of shooting. Also under- stood that Miss Cummins is not ill. Studio will reshoot all lensing done up to now with either Henry King or Joseph Mankiewicz at the helm, it was expected. Darryl Zan- uck arrived from Palm Springs late yesterday afternoon to confer with producer William Perlbcrg in an effort to iron out the troubles. Ac- tress, in bed when contacted by Varikty, said she would not return to work until given go-ahead by medicos and did hot know when that would be. but she did express "amazement," through her mother Mrs.: Margaret Cummins, over the turn'of events. The studio gave official announce- ment out concerning, the. upheaval, as follows: "By mutual, agreement with the studio, John M. Stahl. is with- ' drawing from the direction of 'For- ever Amber.' Plans for resumption of production will be announced later in the week. Darryl F. Zanuck is returning to the city to confer with William Perlbcrg, producer of the picture.'' GOLDMAN SETTLING SUIT VS. MAJORS? Philadelphia, April 30. Settlement of William Goldman's -triple-damage claim against the ma- jors is foreseen in a visit by the Philly indie circuit operator to Spyros Skouras in New York yester- day (Monday). Goldman and the 20ih-Fox prexy huddled in the lat- ter's office following postponement of a hearing in Federal court to de- termine amount of damages to be paid Goldman; An imposing array of top attor- neys representing: the major com- panies was on hand and prepared to argue the assessment of damages be- fore William Kirkpatrick. Distribs last fall lost the decision to Gold- man in an anti-trust, action growing out of his inability to .obtain product for his Erlangcr theatre! With the finding in his favor, sum to be paid him—tripled under terms or the Clayton and Sherman acts—has been awaiting determination. Hearing was postponed to tomor- row (Wednesday) at which time salcsmanngers for the companies are scheduled to appear. Horrible Example Washington, April 30. Attorney General Tom C. Clark pointed put the Big Five motion picture divorcement suit in N. Y. yesterday (Monday) as the example of the kind of thing he wants the anti-trust division to do. Clark told newsmen he hoped to have anti-trust place, more emphasis on breaking up large monopolistic industries, rather than to get court injunctions against illegal practices. He re- ferred to the N. Y. motion pic- ture suit as what he wanted. Metro's 1st Call On Brit Authors Metro has set deals during the past few months to subsidize . the books o( a number of British au- thors.- Pacts were made by Mrs. Carol Brandt, company's special literary talent rep, during a '7%-. week visit to England, Czechoslo- vakia and Sweden from which she recently returned. Subsidies arranged are similar to those granted American writers. They are in the form of an option that guarantees Metro first rejec- tion rights to the authors' books. If Metro chooses to buy the screen right*, the coin is considered part payment. If it doesn't, after looking at the property, company forfeits the option money. - Mrs. Brandt intends to go abroad again in October and expects at that lime to set many more similar deals. She said that writers both in Eng- land and on the continent are now slill too engrossed in the physical problems of food and living, and the aftermaths of war, to expend- imag- ination on fiction. When writers are again able to turn their attention fully to their work, Mrs. Brandt said, she expects a large flow of strong—if perhaps somber—material. Metro talent digger left for the Coast Saturday. (27) to report on her activities and observations abroad to studio execs. NEGRO ANGLES LIMIT QUARTET With the end of the legit season approaching, screen rights to some 20 Broadway plays and musicals-re- main—for various reasons—unpur- chased by: Hollywood. Race angles are involved in some, producers' ex- cessive financial demands in others, while just plain lack of interest by the studios holds back a third group despite demonstrated staying power on Broadway. "Anna Lucasta," "Deep Are the Roots," "St.. Louis Woman" and "Car- men Jones" all present race prob- lems for the studios. Curiously, there is talk among film company play editors of doing "Lucasta" and "St. Louis Woman" wjth all-white casts. Both legiters, as presently written, use predominantly Negro casts, but "Lucasta" was originally scripted, as a white play (about a Polish family). "RootV with its plot hinged on an inter-racial theme, admittedly pre- sents a problem bigger than Holly- wood cares to tackle. "Carrnen Jones" offers no particular obstacles, since it could be done just as other Negro musicals have been, but ma- jor interest in it has long since sub- sided. "Apple of His Eye" drew a $50,000 offer from Metro, but producer Jed (Continued on page 30) Writers Combine On Film'Leasing' Hollywood, April .30. . The Authors League is supporting the Screen Writers Guild plan to ban outright sale of original material to films, according to Emmet Lavery, SWG prexy at a meeting held last night. League Council in New York wired that it has acted favorably on the SWG proposal after a report from George S. Kaufman. The Dramatists Guild, Authors Guild and Radio Writers will now receive the recommendations from the Council. Adoption of proposal is seen by the writers who would lease original material to producers for a specific period rather than an outright sale. New UA Policy Hits Teast-Famine Routine, Prunes l-Shot Producers, Aims for Stabilized Quality Pix Skeered? Mrs. Carol Brandt, Metro's super-snooper for literary talent is the epitome of caution where newspapermen are concerned. She refused to be interviewed by a Variety mugg last week about her recent European tour until flanked ■ by her attorney and two witnesses. Broad change in United Artists policy is in the making to stabilize the company's distribution output and at the same time up the quality of the films it releases, it has been learned. Move entails the dropping from UA's list of one-shot and inter- mittent producers and the seeking of contractual obligations for a set number of pictures a year from the others. Company aims to get a steady flow of pictures, rather than the feast or famine periods it now regularly goes through. UA execs believe that, at the same time, by limiting releasing deals to producers who are "in . busi- ness," rather than those who turn out an occasional picture as a finan- cial venture, they can assure the i better quality product. . T , n j„. «„ rll , n | Pruning the list of producers is ,,.„„ : j "h^f P n tL not aimed at cutting quantity of re- F.hppo del Guidice, chief of Two- . , eas aUhougn that m , be an Ct.cs Films. JArthur^ Ranks major , effec , UA .. ,„ babl y release Del Guidice Said To Be Exiting Rank production outfit, will leave the Rank setup in the very near future because of constant tiffs with Rank over . policy, according to persistent but unconflrmed_rumors here. Del Guidice, who's credited with having done most to keep the Brit- ish film industry on its feet during the darkest days of the blitz, is re- portedly, in favor of turning out more ot the cultural-type pix, such as his current "Henry V." Rank, on the other hand, with his eyes on the American market, wants his pro- ducers to concentrate on films with a wider appeal. If del Guidice does leave the. Rank fold, it's believed that he'll probably strike out on some indie production venture of his own, but release (Continued on page 27) around 25 films this season, which is high for it, but execs are satisfied with that number. What they want principally to avoid is having a dozen pictures on their hands for distribution at one point and then going, three months without any. Pacts entered into, with producers hereafter—both new ones and those who have previously released through UA—will have clauses coin- continued on page 24) National Boxoffice Survey Post-Easter Socko — 'Follies/ 'Dragonwyck,' 'Vir- ginian/ -Gilda' Top Pacers. Selznick to Sell 'Duel' As Roadshow a la 'GWTW' David O. Selznick's "Duel in the Sun' will be sold on continuous run at roadshow scales throughout the country starling probably in October. Sales terms are expected to be pat- " terned somewhat after those which applied on "Gone With the Wind". . W| lh a guarantee of profit to apply, Forever" (RKOV but thus far the formula hasn't been ~ worked out. May be as much as 70% filrainht. Selznictc Is interested in opening • Duel" on Broadway in two theatres day-and-date, one of them of course being the Astor, which he and Sam Goldwyn control. , "Duel" runs around two-and-a- half hours. . Continued strength at the box- office, even after the Easter week splurge and number of holdovers, marks biz over the country this stanza. There is little change in the leaders with bulk of strength con- centrated in the first five big pic- tures. Golden dozen in about the older named are "Zicgfeld Follies" (M-G). "Dragonwyck" (20th ), "Vir- ginian" (Par), "Gilda" (Col), "Sara- toga Trunk" (WB), "Kitty" (Par), "Bandit of Sherwood Forest" (Coll, "Devotion" (WB\ "This Day For- ward" (RKO), "Outlaw" (UA), "Blue Dahlia" (Par) and "Tomorrow outstanding coin being garnered In K. C, St. Louis, Boston and L. A. "Dragonwyck" is playing in about 12 key cities currently but is off a bit from last week because < second stanza business, reported in a num- ber of . spots, is slower. "Virginian" looks to get third money although playing only nine keys. "The Out- law" likely will get more than $94,- 000 from L. A. and Chicago, plus one day in San Francisco before halted by gendarmes. "Kid From Brooklyn" (RKO) and WAKEMAN'S $20,000 A YEAR FOR 10 YEARS Frederic Wakemah's deal with Metro for "The Hucksters" calls for payments of $20,000 a year for 10 years, so as to spread his income over a term of years. This pre-pro- duction pattern of payment will be- come a growing system' in order to . i 'Make Mine Music" (RKO), both on sta g ger the tax rap. Cole Porter did I Focnn/1 M V csccinnc chano ac .■ ■ . -n «*r * *__•■ Films, et AL, Can Now Claim $200 Million Which Mosso Seized in Italy Washington, April 30. State Dept. yesterday (Monday) invited American film interests and other U. S. businessmen who had property confiscated in Italy during the war to "come and get it." State estimated that $200,000,000 of. American property was grabbed by the Mussolini government. -It said reps of the U. S. firms all have to go there to claim their holdings. Italian government released . the properties April 9, Under an agreement between the two countries. Italy will name an administrator for any properties un- claimed by May 9. HOBLITZELLE'S 250G FOR TEXAS AGGIES Dallas, April 30. Karl Hoblitzelle, prez of Interstate Theatres, last week pledged $250,000 for a Texas agricultural research in- stitution. He pledged $150,000 from the Esther Hoblitzelle Foundation in memory of his wife, and $100,000 from the Hoblitzelle Foundation for the erection of a laboratory. An- other $10,000 was also pledged by Hoblitzelle each year, for the next five years for the maintenance fund. An entire block in the city has also been presented to the YMCA by Hoblitzelle which will be used for clubrooms, a pool, gym and confer- ence room for young men and^ women in that community. Diary of a Chambermaid" (RKO) just misses getting into the big-12 class, mainly because only in three theatres'. However, it is sock $25,000 in Detroit and torrid $38,000 in two Boslon theatres, second week. "De- votion" makes the list mainly via its showing on fourth week in N. Y. because termed disappointing at ' $12,000 in Cleveland and only fairish ) on second San Francisco session. ; Although just winding up ils long- j run in N. Y.. "Follies" play dates, dol i Hollywood. April 30. the landscape this stanza Id become j . Foi- the fn-bt time since she had her : smash grosser of the week. Picture j baby, j ut iy Garland left her home 'looks to do more than-$400,000 in Thursday (25) on a shopping lour in 'the keys covered by Varikty playing the Beverly Hills business district I in some 15 theatres. Metro musical Judy's Pass-Out second N. Y. sessions, shape as strong b. o. bets. "Old Sacramento" (Rep) also is big $18,000 on N. Y. preeifl. "Whistle Stop" (UA), which has been a bit spotty, looked big in current frame in Buffalo, Seattle and Washington. "Wile of Monte Cristo" (PRC) is doing solid- on holdjovers in Chi and Cincinnati. "Tangier" <U) j shapes- for above average trade in ' three L. A. houses. ■ (Complete Film BoxoJ/ice Re- • pons, Pages 12-13.1 the same thing with Warners for his "Night.and'Day" flfmusical autobiog. spreading the $300,000. price over 10 years at 30G per annum. Topper to Metro's "Huckster's'' deal is that for another $5,000 the studio has the privilege of buying the property outright, otherwise it reverts to Wakcman. «nd fainted on the street. She was revived by passersby and carried into a music store where she passed out again, Her physician has ordered her back lo bed for a longer period of convalescence. is pacing Providence. Minneapolis. Louisville, Buffalo, Cleveland and Skeiy Washington. It may hit a rec- ord in Cleveland at around-$30,000. Its the lop straight-filmer in In- dianapolis'. And reports show biz to range from rich to terrific, other Janssens Sell (!) Heme Hollywood. April 30. Falcon's. Lair, former home of Ru Pathe Has Mono Pix In Eng. for 8 Years London, April 30. Samuel Broidy and Norton V. i Rilchey hove concluded an eight- dolph Valentino, has been sold by ! year deal with Pathe Pictures to-rr- ' lease Moiiograrri product in England on adjusted terms. Mono is also sending the King Bros, over early next year to pro- duce a picture starring. Bclita. Deal calls for Mono to distribute Pathe product in the U. S. Werner Janssen. symphonic conduc- tor, and his wife Ann Harding, to Mrs. Gypsy Buys, Hollywood cos- metics'manufacturer,-- Purchase price- is said to be $100,- 000. and is located on a hill over- looking Catalina Channel. Trad* Mark Registered FOUNDED BY B1ME SILVERMAN FablUhMl Weekls bj VAHIftTl. Int. Sid Silverman. President 1H Weil 46th St. New York 19. N. T INDEX Bills 63 Chatter 71 Film Reviews 8 Foreign 16 House Reviews :... 64 Inside Legit .... 6R Inside Music .. 53 Inside Orchestras ..' .';. 53, Inside Pictures . 27 Inside Rsdio 48 Joe Laurie. Jr. 4 Legitimate ...: 05 Literati '....28 Milton Bcrle '.: ... 2 Music ... 49 New Acts .' 63 Night Club Reviews 00 Obituary ...... 70 Orchestras 49 Pictures 3 Plays Abroad .. 10 Radio ........ 32 Radio Reviews 38 Recommended Records 50 | Frank Scully ., 28 Television 34 Vaudeville - 56 DAILf VAKIfiTV (Published In Hollywood b» Dally Variety. Ltd.) 110 ■ Teer—HZ FnreiRn.-