Variety (May 1946)

PICTURES UftfttEfr WVJoegJay, May 15, As Location Housing Stymies Prods. Need for Studio Stage Space Lessens As Actual Production Slows Down By FRANK KISKE II looks-now us-though live recent bailing in Hollywood over ihe short- age of stage space is going to be matched. by, producers confronted with a shortage of wide open spaces. The location problem is developing dome acute angles of its own and while it hasn't exactly become ' a major headache is'.'injecting con- siderable grief into the routine pro-, duction chores. Trespassing" troupe went on loca- tion in Sonora and part of them im- ' mediately landed in jail: No crime— ! just housing shortage. The small | town was crowded to capacity by the sudden influx of film' workers. Vacant rooms, hotels! motels and the .school house were all jammed. So, Sonora being a town Where crimej is not rampant and the jail seldom": filled, part of the company was given j clean and' comfortable, if somewhat gruesome quarters in the village \ poky. Other producers with pictures that call for small town and country loca- ■ tlons are having equal or worse dif- j Acuities. In some instances scripts ! are being hurriedly re-written 'to ob- | viate the need for certain 'locations | and where there is no other way but ! worried production managers are sitting up nights trying to ligure out | how to take care of a hundred or ; more, people in lodgings Uial. are only meant for half the. number. . CPA Forres Trips Situation' is aggravated by the Civilian Production Administration $15,000 limit on set <*osts. Generally speaking there, are few sets that cost even as much as the $15,000. But huge exterior scenes that might be constructed on the lot to avoid lo- cation treks can run into.more dough than that and the only answer is lo- cation. Enterprise Productions recently decided it would be cheaper to plane a crew to-Paris'to background for "Arch of Triumph" on the actual, scene of the story than it would to construct elaborate street scenes the studio. Same studio at the moment has had. difficulties gelling accomoda- : tions for its "Ramrod" company in Zion National Park. Problem, at ■ last report, was pretty well licked, i but at one slage of the dickering ' producer Harry "Pop" Sherman was threatening to go back to Griffith : Park where they used to shoot t|ic quickie westerns of silent clays. Only studio with extensive loca- tion shooting coming Up that is gel- . ting a break is 20(h'-Fox. They will film most of the outdoor sequences of "Bob. Son of Battle'' at Kanab. Utah—-a romiiviuily that lias already ! be^n used by.2fllh-Fox for "Smoky." j "Flicka" and others and is well- ! geared to handle motion picture troupes. Company, however is hav- ing some location trouble with its "13 Rue Madeleine" but. in (hat case the housing problem is eased a bit ' by the fact that troupe is making : quick plane trips Ironi. one location . to another called for in script. On "My Darling Clementine." however, company'is having to erect huge lent city in Monument Valley. Ariz. Beach and mountain locations in and .around Los Angeles now have' to be made basis to and ZaSu Quits 'Father' Hollywood, May 1.4. ZaSu Pills checked out of Ihe cast of "Lire With Father." at Warners, because of a prior commitment -on the Broadway singe. Actress obtained her release from the Burbank lot because her role as I star in the legit play, "Cordelia," ; conflicted with her picture chore. U.S.-BritTaxBill May Aid Actors Washington; May 14. I Senate Foreign Relations Coniniil- I tee last week failed to amend the i new double-taxation treaty with I Britain to lake care of actors. Coni- ■ mittee. however, left the way open 'for a "special-protocol" to handle | the situation and members indicated j dial Ihe actors eventually will re- I ceive full benefit of tlx; treatv. i . .. ■ The committee, ignoring the rec- ommendation of its subcommittee, which favored the amendment, voted to send the. treaty in its present form ■to the Senate .for approval. The protocol—a sort of supple- mental treaty—is reported under consideration in Ihe State Dept. and in the British Foreign Office. The treaty to end double-taxation was first reported favorably last .July but has been held up ever since be- cause spokesmen for the actors com- plained' that they were to rcecivp less favorable treatment than other American citizens. Foreign Relations Committer agreed with the merit of the actors' case but said the treaty would be stymied for months if it were amended now. since . i( would then have to go back to Parliament for ■ a" ; fultnei ' action aifd that would take ' rf ' considerable time. Opinion was ex- pressed that the protocol would be approved both in this country hihI in Britain and would be. tacked on to the treaty in due course. While the treaty ends double- taxation for all Amerie; ns who work in Britain for six months or less, .t permit.": Americans -- except for actors—who work in Ei.gland to pay the lower American income lax rale. The actors must pay the British rale, which is higher. Autry to Play 'Autry' Hollywood. May 14. Gene Autry \s first picture at He- public since lu's return from Army service will be "Sergeant Gene Autry." Currently on a rodeo lour. Autry will return to .Hollywood in lime to start Ihe picture June 6. With him in the series, will be the Cass County Boys. : WALLY BOAG Currently appearing at .Radio City : Music Hall, New York. .Insi im m ned from Itio ile .lnnriin, ' wlifiv he i-nmpleted il Ihiiiifd X-wi-ek ' engagement ill the ('opru-abaiui ('r- -Hioo I hrre. Management MARK J. LEDDY If UA-SmaD Renew Negotiations are continuing be- . i ween Edward Small and United ! Artists on'a releasing dial. Small's ,'pact with Ihe company expired re- cently and changes in terms, certain to be made, are delaying a new deal. Small formerly had a "most fa- l vored nation" clause in his contract, .providing that distribution terms he i got were as good as. the best re- ceived by any other producer. UA is eliminating such terms from all new contracts and Small, if he re- . signs, will be paying approximately a Hat 25',. Meanwhile. Small has deals with Iwo other studios on single pictures, neither of which- have any bearing on a permanent releasing' arrange- ment'. He has sold one package on "Bella Donna" to United World Pic- tures and other on "The Return of Monte Cristo" to Columbia. In each case, in return for providing script and player commitments. Small gels billing and a percentage of the prof- its. a c c o m o ft r t i o n for ARMY STALLING IRKS U.S.PIX IN GERMANY Annoyed by what appears to be unnecessary delays by the military authorities in turning the distribu- tion setup in Germany over to the industry's Export Assn.. steps were reportedly taken at the association's meeting last week to r<>ree more im- mediate action. Aside from the fad dial eight American distributing companies- are being deprived of an additional source of foreign revenue, it is no w secret t'haU major company foreign virtually oh a commuling i lop " eis have been annoyed by what d from studio, overflow i ap ? < ' 1,1 ' s lo the adamant attitude of from the city due lo housing short-■ l,i "'- v »»lhoiiti>s in the German age having crowded those com- • "!'"'■ Ci "'' ■ Milliken. head of Motion muiiities to the point where there is !.pp lure Assn. of America foreign af- ■ fairs; is in Washington now on this and other overseas matters. This continued supervision lias, j been disturbing enough but some foreign execs are reported vexed bv the way prints are handled. Under- stood that feature prints are turned ;over to the military authorities for . handling in German-occupied terri- tory without any provision made for raw slock in return ror-such deliv- eries. Several weeks ago. foreign depart- ment officials admitted that it looked as if the military was stalling over reluming full distribution controls to American industry. Morris Good- man. Export Assn. rep. has been on the ground in Germany and cooper-' aling with the military authorities. His recommendations arc understood to have brought the action last week in which the' industry will seek an elimination or the present military, road-block. Sonic Mini company virtually no transients. HEX FIX STUDIOS WILL EASE SHORTAGE IN ILS. Mexico City. May 14. The Tepeyac studios. Hearing com- pletion in Mexico City at a cost of • bout S+.OOO.OOO, will help relieve the studio shortage north of the border by being'open lo Hollywood as well •s Mexican producers. Completed .setup will comprise Id sound stages, ' built according to the most up-to- date standards. ;ind one location atage. 330 feet long. The enterprise, financed, by a com- bination of American and Mexican capital, is headed by Ted Gilfrcd as prcxy of the Estudios CinematogiH-,. execs contend there is no -'excuse "for flcos del Tcpcyac with . Howard E. keeping (he Export Assn. from lak- ' Bandall directing the construction iiig over iust as it lias done in J«-i | pan and Korea. j 'Our Grade/Back From ! Tour, to Take It Easy Gracie Fields, who returned lo i N. Y. this week from a 150.000 mile | USO-Camp Shows lour that look her • around (he world, appears lo be virtually sel to go into semi-retire- ment-. Comedienne had announced ■ intention before going on her trip, but had to withdraw the statement because of protests mainly from England. Now she' confirms it. Miss Fields who was accompanied on Ihe trip by Monte Banks, her ] husband and Mini producer-director, i isn't considering any immediate of- • fers for work. She would like lo ■ concentrate on television, believing it will soon be the coining thing in showbusiness. While abroad. Miss Fields was propositioned to make "Mrs. War- den's Profession" for-Gabriel Pascal, British film producer! In addition, she received oilier film and radio offers, but so far has accepted none ' of them. While she's currently planning to reside permanently in this country, she will not drop her British citizen- ship, probably fearing .a storm from her English fails. Par's Brit. Studio; Wallis'New Plans Paramount will build a studio in England as soon as building condi- tions permit. Following weekend huddles w ith George. Wellner. Hal Wallis, Joe Hazel) anii - Y. Frank Freeman, all of whom lia>e jus ri»- ttirned from a four weeks' trip to London. Balaban said tint Par. as a longrange program, is acqci'ipg ap- proximately 100 acres in England for the new studio. Quartet tried to line tip studio space in England for Par' to begi'i London production immediately but apparently found conditions too jammed. Balaban declared, however, that negotiations are continuing with British execs'lor the acquisition of rented space. While in London. Wallis and.Hazen purchased film rights to "For . Her to See." new Joseph Shearing.novel. Tentative plans have been* set for Hal Wallis Productions lo start rolling on the film in the early spring or 1947. in space to be reined in a British studio. Wallis also plans to produce in England "Whenever I Remember." based on a play by Edward Leiand and Oscar Millard. Both Minis will be released by Par. since Wallis still has six Minis to go under his contract with that company. Wallis and Ha/en will begin pro- duction on I heir fall slate of three films for Par release within the next month. Wallis left for the Coast to- day i Wednesday i. to be followed by Hazen some time in June. Duo will begin- immediately to cast their pro- ductions, which include "Desert Town" aiid "Bpggars Are Coming to Town." plus a third which will be selected, from two other properties. Possibility thai Wallis might im- port two British stars for his Ameri- can-made pictures. Producer will not disclose their names until nego- tiations have been completed. He's also negotiating with several Euro- pean actors to bring idem .to the V. S. this summer for tests. Ralph Richardson (Old Vic Co.) in Korda Pact Ralph Richardson, currently star- ring with the Old Vic troupe on Broadway, signed a live-year ticket with Alexander 'Korda. Contract starts -after' Richardson completes the season next fall in London with Old Vie Co,, and calls for a minimum of four films in five years. Initial picture to be made at Kor- da's Sound City studios in London. Shirley's'Bride* Pic Hollywood. May 14. Shirley Temple will have Hie star spot in "What Every Young Bride. I Should Know.'' Sclznick production.'! Alan Scott will produce the film } which rolls after Miss Temple winds 1 up in "The Bachelor and the Bobby- | L. A. to N Y. Edward L. Alperson Artie Aurrbach Stephanie Bachelor Jean Barry Irving Berlin Julian Blaustcin Dane Clark Waller Craig Lester Culley Bill Doziei- Eddy Duchiii William Elliott William Eylhe Joan Fontaine Al Galslon Joe Glaser Bernard Goodwin James R. Grainger Katharine Hepburn Rupert Hughes Lou Irwin Allan I joe Andrew Lawler Laud.v Lawrence Leonard L. Levinsnn W. H; iBud) Lollier Samuel Machuovicli Ernest A. Martin Eli Oberslein George Pal . Ralph Peer Richard Powers Hal Wallis Allen Wilson P. J. Wolfson Ed Wolpln . LONDON to N. Y. Irving Goelz Ben Roberts N Y. to LONDON Charles .Bre,wer Irwin Dash Wally Moody. ■♦■ Furore over the shortage of stage space in Hollywood seems to be riv- ing down with many studio execs and producers frankly discounting complaints that there isn't room to accommodate people who 'want to make pictures. They call attention to two angles— 1. Despite ihe large' number nf independent producers preparing )0 make pictures ihe number or in- dependent producers ready to make pictures and in immediate need of slage space is limited. 2, Considerable curtailment 0 f production is a definite .possibility : owing 10 holdover's and long runs. C. J; Tevlin, prcxy of General Service Corp., . announcing an e-.x- paiision program that will provide J facilities for four .more pictures a 'year on the General.Service lot, as- . serted that he didn't know or "single instance at the moment in which j-« producer, -who has a picture ready i lo shoot is being held up by lack of I slage space." I "There are . a great, many who i can't get stage space coniniiimrnis : in advance," he said, "but there are ' tew who have script, cast."financing': • and everything ready to go who 'can't be accommodated." N« -Office Room He pointed out that office space is much scarcer currently than slage space. More than one producer with maybe nothing more than a script on hand would like to sign up with a rental lot lo get office facilities while he is getting a production or- ganization and cast together. Some or the hiajors are suffering from overcrowding in Ihe mailers or ac- commodating the office force. Paia- niinint for a while rented extensive office space at the old California-' Studios a block away, but were forced lo vacate when Enterprise look Ihe plant over. New building at Universal, not yet quite finished, has already been filled to overflow? ing by the International office. In addition, the lot is now dolled with barracks bought from the Army, moved in and remodelled to make working quarters'. for both Universal and the- International bunch that has moved in under the United. World Pictures deal. Situation is further aggravated by the numerous . independent.'units-now operating im the Universal lot. And office short- age in downtown Hollywood is vir- tually as acute as the housing shortage. .That more slage space may be made available due 16 decrease in production seems likely now:. Long Runs Cut Nerds The more- pictures that go into extended runs Ihe less need and Die less theatre accommodation there is for new pictures. Result is that some of Hie majors arc piling up » sizable, backlog and either cim- lempiale. or have already made, cuts in production schedule. 20lli- Fox has cut its schedule ror the year from to 25 pictures. Such pictures as "Dragonwyck." "Leave Her lo Heaven." among others on the 20th-Fox list have held over at various theatres long past the ex- pected lime: Paramount points out that "Lost Weekend" got 17 weeks in Ihe New York Rivoli, a five-weeks run in Lais Angeles: that ' Going My 'Way" went for eight weeks in Los An- fieles and that .''Road lo Utopia." and five weeks in Los Angeles. In »d- dilMin. they have enjoyed big rum throughout the country. Much of the Warner Bros, and Metro prod- uct shows a similar long run record. Not especially affected by the situation al o Universal, Republic and Columbia, which sell largely in mar- ket that doesn't accommodate ex- tended runs. N. Y. to L. A. Monly Banks Charles Boreu Mill Deiilch Howard Diet/ Siim .Eckman, Jr. Gracie Fields Irving La/ar Sid Mesibov Fred S, Meyer Richard Morros E\t Morrow Hermes Pan Milton Se.hwai-zwald Paul' Small Arlccn Whelaii