Variety (May 1946)

16 INTERNATIONAL •VAKIKTC'ft' LONDON O>E10B • St. MarUa'n I'Urr, Tl» (altar 8oan Foreign Market Hits Top Stride, Registers New Highs for Pictures disputes about * For Tivoli Circuit Despite quotas, product deals and other restrictions, j British Comedian uii business being done by m product in the foreign currently read like ticker i- ... im a bull stock market. Reopened markets in the Orient. <r.. ;>niii<u the Philippines, Indo- fnniii. iind smaller countries, arepil- up such record biz that any ; ■ ■ v v"nchi dip cLscwhere is being more than overcome, according to reports mi ned in N. Y. The bullish busi- ness .-■ reflected in reports from all « mt t!ie ulobc. with virtually every m-ii :l)uixi admitting new records :i.. kiil up in many markets. Flic t! at there are many strong fc.ii.ui - now going into the foreign fii Id. including reissues in some in- stall.-.-, naturally has bolstered the siiiiaii.ni. The lone sour note to this p:n:ii sin; foreign picture is the con- tinued upbeat of Soviet influence, and tendency of governments in Soviet-dominated countries to give R.is-ian product a break to the ex- i In-;.at in- hindrance of American fine T.vpieal of the way foreign trade is soaring Melbourne. April 23. | Dave Martin, director of Tivoli l \aude-revue circuit. signatured : British comedian. Sandy Powell, for a season to start around next Sep- tember. I Comic is familiar to Aussie audi enees via the disk route. Mexico Producers Seek Less Pix, But Stronger, See Only 100 in 1946! Mexico City, April 30. Picture production this year, aimed at 200. definitely will not reach that ! total. It may not even match the 64 1 of last year. That is the belief in pro- duction circles. Reason is because of trend toward i quality, instead of quantity. | Yen for quality stems from fact; that only six were rated big features ] Current London Shows London, April 30. "Arsenic * Old Laee," Strand. "Astonished Ostrich," Si James. "Better Late," Garrick. "Crying Out Loud," Stall. Ballet Elyieei, Adelphia. "Duet far Two," Lyric. "Arsenic, Old Lace," Cambridge. "Fllty-Flfty," Strand. Tine Feathers," Wales. "First Gentleman," Savoy. "Follow the Girls," Majesty'*. "Guinea' Pig," Criterion. "Hasty Heart," Aldwych. "Here Come the Boys," Seville. "High Time," Palladium. "Honeymoon," York's. "Lady,'£dinbor(b," Playhouse. "Make ft V Dale," Duchess. "Man About House," Piccadilly. "Merrie England," Princes. "Night and Music," Coliseum. "No Medals," Vaudeville. ' "Perchance to Dream," Hipp. "Private LJves," Apollo. "See How They Run"—-Sacred Flame." Comedy. "Shop Sly Corner," St. Marlins. "Sleeping Beauty," Covcnt. "Song of Norway," Palace. "Murder on Nile," Ambassador. "Under the Counter," Phoenix'. "While Sun Shines," Globe. "Windermere's Fan." Haymarket. "Worm's v lew," Whitehall. "Years Between," Wyndhams. last year. Banks did not like this ob- s the'experience of -Love , viously. The Argentine, now getting 1.. u. rs.' which is beating "Going ; >aw stock, is seen as a major com. Mv Wav" business in Sydney. i n petitior both in Mexico and countries the same city. "Road to Utopia" also ! wher « Mexican product has done i> s, :iin C a new high. "Saratoga j W *J' •IVank" is understood to be dupli- I Word among Mexican producers is mime :k big domestic biz in the . ,hat lh , e , re are to be better Argen- f.11 c ; "ii lield ttnian films pronto. Pampas pictures Vvcn the reissue of "Sign of the are we " Iiked in Mexico. Normal | Europe but likely will stop off in Cm s." which played many spots in i transportation also is cited as an-j Pal . is again before returning to the the U. S last season, is smash. In °. lh . er ,ac,or ln favor of tne Argen- u. S. Joseph Seidclman, Universal Sears, Pickford, Gould, Seidelman in Paris Paris. April 23. Grad Sears and Walter Gould* of United Artists, wjio arrived here I with Mary Pickford, are still in Many Argent Film Stars Forsake Native Land for Mexico, S. Am. Dates Nat'l Electric Strike Averted in Mexico Mexico City, April 30. Show business is breathing easier because the strike that the National Electricians Union threatened in sympathy . with its local's deadlocked strike in Parras, Coahuilastate, was headed off. General strike would have suspended all electric -.services here and in 22 states. Parras' strike was settled with the workers winning a 80',;. pay hike. They were; asking a 150*.;. raise. India it hit new highs at the Regent = lin ' H » s - ; International prexy, is due in this in Br.mbay and Regent in Calcutta. !, Plc ' ure -Producers and D.stribu- week from Lond o n . - . j tors Assn. is urging its members to I David Lewis, of Metro, has left ; bear down hard to get quality in ; for N- y, on a v i s j t 0 f two weeks at I product to meet Argentinian com- ; the homeoffice. ' pctish. i Full realization that there is a trui-h fisiht still ahead in the foreign market is pointed up by the number of countries where American pic- lines feci the Soviet influence. These include Czechoslovakia. Yugoslova- k>a. Romania. Bulgaria, Austria, limitary and Russia. In all lands where the industry's Export Assn. operates, too, U. S. distribs' admit- tedly face an uphill fight to obtain a free market. Hays Abroad High Tide London. April 20. New Greek Laws On Pix Imports a Washington, April 30. Greek Government has set up a n< w regulation on film imports to help figure its capacity to pay for foreign motion pictures, according tn George Canty, film specialist for the Slate dept. All imports of motion pictures into Greece will be divided Into two categories. First will include all pix dis- ! sav0ls of pre-war days. There Hrc t.ibi.ted by subsidiaries of the pro- i al "? several American . n .i m be rs i ., „ . . _ , v ; which smack of real coin outlay, diners. At present, because of space „ . _ . ,„..,. 1 Opening scene. Ram and Shine, V:.l Pto-iitll vrfHOiilallon nf ti.'w i.uiHl.'al ihuw prot)ti«*««l by Hoberl N»;!*lilil in two purl* lH ft.*^ii<>sl: nlHrir Tei.sk* O'Sli^:), Nat ■lu.-Wley, jAwel and Wnrriie.: fi'itlnroj. Kob ISi'Ouil^y, Ull JohnM.li, IIrIiiiii:. :.n.l Konnr- 1.1.1: Mariana* Lln.-nln. Tin? Wnllnbi^H (4). Sammy .'urlla, R*ri>m-<l Diull.'y. Henry l.ylion. Hurry Mor^ny. Hotilil.. TranlPr. Milly Taallr. Tnny Hullry. D.-Mlitmiil Ynu.l*. skyrovkata On-haalra; inut.ii: by l.en Berln- Ker. Mink Hlia'.m. Bin-h nam. lloliznlo I'nriH. Harry TWr DhvI^j.. ilahy Rugcr*. \Vlll»y aind Kramai: lyric?. I.y Hrnwn. R«y HiMi-VrMin, Dl.-k MuriMii. Al raHii- Himn. This is the first effort of Val Par- nell who replaced the late George Black as head of this theatre. Show scored on opening night and looks assured of a long run. It is lavishly produced and spec- tacular, and is understood to have cost $140,000 to produce, and looks it. There are many expensive scenes, and elaborate wardrobe that i brings out show's bevy of beautiful (emmes. with Jewel and Warriss '. clowning. Brown and Henderson's ; warbling "Turn on the Rainbow." Boys do not make enough of the number, but register nicely. "Boy i Meets Girl" scene brings on Nat ' Jackley. rubber-necked comic. Any question on advisibility of having ' two comics following so closely is ; shattered because he keeps house in an uproar. Comedian is ably aided by Marianne Lincoln and Sammy Curtis. iWhitley and Kramer), which looks to hit the jackpot. Second half is studded with belly laughs, outstanders beinj,' "Shore Leave," with Jewel and Warriss as English and American sailors, mak- ing play for O'Shea and Lincoln in boisterous flirtation bit, and "On the Square," ludicrous drilling scene, with Jackley and his stooges as raw; recruits. "Concerto For Two." (used In Black's Opera House, Blackpool, re- vue, of couple seasons ago), with Jewel and warriss as two longhair pianists (obvious take off of two noted continental pianists, Rawicz and Lan- dauer), failed to impress, and could be deleted to advantage. But "Light Fantastic," preceding is tops. It has Halama and Koranski plus Gil John- son, former two as classic dancers and latter as purveyor of modern hoofology. with house falling for both numbers. Closing scene Is eye-filling spec- tacle. Show was lumulluously re- ceived, with "acknowledged bows from Val Parnell. Robert Nesbitt, Joan Davis. Charles Henry (assist- ant to Nesbitt). and Paul Feriouthc't and his "Skyrockets." Fast-named aggregation 6 comprises recently discharged men from Royal Air Force, being effective in putting over the many musical numbers. Show has bookings for next four months and already very heavy. Rege. J. Arthur Rank Readies Drive to Place Films In Latin-Ant Theatres Buenos Aires, April 23. The drive to put. British films back dfi the South American map is now being readied. So says Robert H. Weait, supervisor of J. .Arthur Rank film interests in Latin-America who planed here on April 10 on an In- spection trip. Films will be dis- tributed by United World Pictures once distribution machinery is set up, but just now several other dis- tribs will handle. Before Weait's arrival, the Argen- tine scene had been surveyed by Charles Deane, British actor-director, who has been : handling publicity here for Rank productions, During the war, Deane was with units which filmed the German concentration camps and had helped on the pro- duction of "Ceasar and Cleopatra." Rank's "Henry V" has been in RKO's hands for some time, and won't be released until next August. "The Seventh Veil" will be the first Rank film, to be released through Universal. United Artists will dis- tribute "Ceasar and Cleopatra," "Blithe Spirit," "Col. Blimp," "Fanny By Gaslight," and others. Some Argentine, exhibitors say they will welcome Ihe influx of British pictures with some hoping they will succeed well enough to discourage Hollywood from sending Spanish dubbed pix to the Buenos Aires market. Release of Warner Bros. "Confi- dential Agent" at the Gran Cine Opera had to be postponed in spite of considerable advance publicity due to faulty condition, of film on ar- rival. WB's "My Reputation;" substi- tuted for it, has been doing strong biz. Paramount's . "Kilty." at the Gran Rex, also has been grossing sock takes. . shiiriaiic. all majors except 20lh-Fox are represented by one distribution aceney m Greece, although each company will eventually establish its n\\ n exchanges. 2tnVi distributes through one of tin- Skourases who is a Greek ex- hibitor. Number of imports in this ci tcyory is limited to 180 annually for all countries. Beyond this quota, special import licenses will be needed. Canty says presumption is that foreign exchange will be made ;.\ailahlc for the 180 pix and for llio.se which get in on special license. Second category includes lh<Ke pic- Ranee of Swing, was only so-so, i "■■"■i«iin. Jenn Kinn-y. .iai-<i'u-iiin' <\'ia>r. si 1ui,s imported on a royalty basis, i *hile "Second Round." with Jewel I',"'."','-' ^T^s^Z^^^ " vbi. h are limited to 60 for all coun- al,d Warriss as fighter and manager Hies. These films are sold against S and Rami serves nicely as finish. "Havana for a Night" i Hammer- stein and Curieli. an elaborate Mex- ican setting, helps to introduce Halama and Konatski. Ru^-ian dan 4»>org<*»i et Margaret Paris. April 16. >.,lt It.'lluil 0<MIIS.')l |it.Hlll.'ti..'ll- .if llirf>n- | :«■-■ .'Mitioly. Triin.HlnliMl I.y ..Mai'.'.(;ilbrrL m . . . I Smiyuji I .Uan Willi' rn.in i;?l'nl4. Shv- Tessie O Shea s Rajahs Crazy on |. : „ K n N „ y . suns iir„i a , ; <;,..>• „n,i Swing, with hefty comedienne as [ Vrainci: mum.* Mkin-i an.iio, cinimiun Si- y a minimum guarantee. New regu- lation will chiefly affect this classi- fied lion and provides that, when tbe film is actually released, the buyer must deposit the amount of the minimum guarantee with the cers who have appeared in two prc- B; nk oi Greece. Purpose appears to cious George Black shows. Femmc be to enable the government to as- ' s °f exotic type with male handling certain that there is sufficient for- ll<T 8 well-done tango number, eign exchange to release the films. °? b Bromley, who was in Black's State dept. officials do not attach | »"?™ '^ r^iSS, nmclnmporlance to the ruling. They . fl0m tj. S.-wilTi new puppet crea- eonsKier it largely a bookkeeping ar- : ijons. best of trio being "Madame La vangenirnl to learn how much drain Zongo." which proved a clickcroo. on Hie country's foreign exchange Closing the first half is "Yukon the film imports will be. ; Nights." noisy frolic with lumber- To date U. S. firms have had no i jacks, golddiggers and plenty or difficulty in getting money out of ] shooting. Using practically entire Greece. System is to accept drach mas for the product, sell the drach- mas to our embassy which spends them there, with the embassy au- thorizing Slate dept. to remit dol- lar- in this country. cast, scene runs much too long and could be curtailed to advantage. Redeeming features are Gil Johnson, discovered by producer Robert Ncs- bilt in Chicago recently, whose danc- ing was pleasingly refreshing, and Money is the Rool of all Evil" .Ml.lr.illH Slllilli. I lit.Dry Slilil ll. . ., l(«>K.'l' Tr:iill|ll«jll. <'l:.ll.If Snillh.... All.-.' Sill ll ll l-'lllllklf Slliilh... itln.lyN Ol.llPliV Tralni"! . ..Mi lirl Amir.' 'l.iisli.h lt.HuI;, ItMiii FltMlry 1'eniMi t:i».y In.'.liii'litir' i 'i.alt.l Suiionp llioilli.M' ...VvftlP l.lli:li!1 Fine production marks this, literal translation of the English play. Com- pact cast puLs it over at a fast tempo. Long run seems assured. Denise Grey steals the show as the foolish mother horrified : by her daughter's sexy talk and her archi- tect son's plan to marry the maid. She keeps the audience in an up- roar, and is well supported by Tramel as her mild husband. Jacqueline Cadet, as thrj slaughter', is a new- comer to the stage but has personal- ity and pulchritude. She gives a nice account of herself, as docs Si- mone Barillier in the maids's role. Christian Bcrtola is okay as the sen- timental young pianist railing in love with his guest's daughter. The favorable reception here lips the fact that - audiences, are eager for escapist plays. ■ Afn.fi. Lush Production Era In France Hits Com Snag Paris, April 23. Picture production as compared to a few months back is becoming more difficult to finance. Immediately after the liberation of France, op- erators seeking camouflage for big fortunes made in the black market favored bankrolling producers in- stead of buying real estate. In- creased inquisiliveness of the ad- ministration in attempting (o trace where the money came from is now frightening many of .them away from pictures. The fact that for a time backers looked for immediate shelter of their holdings rather than for heavy re- turns also may explain partly why some of present releases arc so poor. Austrian Resort City To Stage Come-Back Vienna, April 23. Bad Ischl. summer resort popular for many European and American composers, authors and actors, sutr fered heavy damage during ihe war which will take years of rebuilding before it returns to normalcy. Although some buildings remained intact, many hotels including the beautiful Kur Park were almost com- pletely demolished. While there are no theatrical peo- ple in Bad Ischl this season,. Major Karl Schroepfer hopes that by next year many noted operetta writers again will be back. One of the first things done by the new city adminis- tration was to restore original street names which had been changed by the Nazis. Now it's Kalman street, Oscar Straus street, . and Richard Taubcr Quai again. . ' Montevideo, April 23. Survey of Argentina's film per* sonalities shows a majority of them working in Mexico or filling play- dates abroad. Armanda Ledcsma seems to have settled permanently in Mexico. Hugo del Carril also is there, although he may take flying . trips to Argentina this year for brief film chores. Libcrtad Lamarquc is, on a sing- ing" tour in Mexico and Cuba,'and will probably wind up in Spain. In any case, she does not .plan return- ing here until 1947. Comedian Luis Sandrihi and Tito Merello, after making films in Chile, have gone on to Mexico although both'have legit and radio deals to bring them, back here before the close of the Argen- tine winter. Alicia Barrie also has returned to. Mexico, after a short musical com-' edy engagement in Buenos Aires. Understood that after her marriage to author Sixto Pondal Rios. she plans to stay on in Mexico. Inci- dentally, Pondal Rios is none Moo popular with the Peron set-up and if Mexico offers are tempting enough the scenarist may stay on in Mexico, too. Pablo Palilos is raking in coin at Rio de Janeiro's hotel Quitandinha and his confabs With Metro reps hint a Hollywood pact in the offing: Juan Carlos Thorry and Gloria Guzman are still touring Central America with their musical comedy company, having reached Colombia and Ecuador. They are now get- ' ting set for a Hollywood look-see. They have been away since early in 1945. Meanwhile, Mexico's warblers and cinemacters are starting southward treks to fill the gaps in Argentine show biz on reciprocal junkets. Jorge Negrete arrives this month for radio and pix chores. .Mafia Felix, Arturo de Cordova and Delores del Rio are slated to follow. Cantinflai is expected late in the year, but says he'll not come as a tourist. Nini Marshall, Argentina's top- ranking radio and film comedienne, has nixed various; Mexican and Cuban ' offers, but because the raw stock shortage slowed up production of the two films a year,she is slated to make, she only recently completed the second on the 1944 schedule. Now that the Peron regime is due to continue for six years, the star may be more agreeable to a foreign jaunt. The authorities have nixed her on radio since 1943 for no ap- parent reason. US. FILMERS SET PACT WITH GOVT OF GREECE Athens, April 30. Negotiations between the Greek government and the American film distributors on the currency prob- lem have wound up successfully. Deal has been put through which permits Yank distribs to lake out from Greece the proceeds,of 180 pix on a percentage basis. Additionally, the film companies are free to sell outright to Greek 'distribs another 60 films. Arrangements nix any possibility of a quota system. Proceeds on pix soldi oyer and above the 240 figure covered, cannot be taken out of the country. British Blade Team Booked for Ice Follies London, April 23. C. Bosley and Jean Boslfy. who recently abandoned their amateur status and won the pairs champion- ship at Surrey, have been booked' by Eddie Shipstad, owne rof "Ice Follies" and Walter Brown, of Bos- ton Garden, for their "Ice-Capades." Pair goes, to U. S. on May 13. Team was booked for: America by Shipstad and- Brown after seeing them practice and before winning the ice title. Caracas Wants Snow Pix . Caracas. April 23. With tropical heat on .upbeat here, film exhibitors have been clamoring for more pictures with ice and silow backgrounds. RKO's "It's a Pleasure" is playing capacity at the Boyaea theatre, and UA's "Call of the Wild" also is drawing them, both bein;; ex- amples of this trepd: Snow, a novelty to natives here, always registers with local audiences.