Variety (May 1946)

TABIETT'S* IiONDON OFnCJC '» Si. M»rtt»'» thw, Tr»Ul«mr B««aw INTERNATIONAL It Metro Sets 10% Higher Rental On 16m Pix Overseas Than on 35m Under the sales policy recently in- th'tuted by Loew's International for iU 16m entertainment films, the company is getting 10% more in rental for each narrow-gauge print than it received from the 35m ver- sion of the same film. In addition; according to Seymour R. Mayer, ohief of the 16m entertainment sales, the company has set up-a checking system and is selling its product to the narrow-gauge exhibs in pack-, ''age form, including a feature and enough shorts to constitute an hour and 50-minute program. Hike in the rental is not a hard and last rule, and the company is willing to adjust: terms if the ar- rangements are inequitable. Plan was instituted, according to Mayer, because of the lower operating cost of 16m houses, which carries through all along the line. Even With the 10'%. increase, he declared. ' exhibs will still net at least as much as he would net with a 35m print at a 10° u lower rental. "It is our firm intention," Mayer said, "to see that the exhibitors make a reasonable'-.profit. We. do not want to receive more than, our fair share of the boxeffice receipts: on the other hand, we will hoi be : satisfied with one cent less." ■ Film Sales Packaged Films are sold in' package form because it would be too difficult to handle them separately. With a single-reel short running only about 400. feet on lGm stock, Mayer said, small cans of film would be getting lost all over, the world if they were to be shipped separately. Packages run 10. minutes short of two hours, for the possible inclusion of a news- reel on the schedule. After months of preparatory work, most of the stumbling blocks confronting the company in its new operation, including a shortage or projector equipment, suitable prints of the less recent films, etc., have been broken down and the program is now rolling throughout Latin America, as well as in the Philip- pines. Belgium,. Portugal, Switzer- land and Italy. Last of the 26 local reps who will handle sales in his own country is now completing his training course in the U. S. Reduction prints are currently be- ing made of 45 features, both old and current, although the company will not release a film oh 16m stock In any territory in which it has not already played in its regular 35m size. Metro is also making reduc- tion prints -of current product from, new negatives before shrinkage sets in, for future use. Gl's Add Impetus Number of cx-GIs who are re- maining in the Philippines to take oyer as 16m exhibs is giving added impetus to the program in that ter- ritory. Mayer said. Army recently announced it was turning all 16m projector equipment over to the vet- erans as surplus property and many of the GIs are taking advantage of the offer. One such ex-serviceman. Mayer said, recently bought 100..pro- jectors and is planning to start a circuit of 30 houses. Metro is having no trouble in ob- taining projectors to ship overseas because the manufacturers have rec- ognized the potentialities of the for- eign ICm entertainment market. Mayer said. lie pointed out that '.Orion H. Hicks, chief, of the com- pany \s lGm operations; had devel- oped good relationships with most of the manufacturers during his many years in the narrow-gauge business and so had been able to convince them to make more equit- able allocations between the domes- tic and foreign markets. Emphasizing that Metro is not in the projector business. Mayer said, however, that in any lelrritory where it's obvious that the mauu- facliirerls agent' can't meet the de- mands, the company will buy pro- Sectors for immediate resale to ex- hibs at Ijst price. Metro has made .no attempt to get a better deal than- the regular export discount, Mayer said. Company has asked for pref- erential trcilnicnt on deliveries, but .never .on. price. Negrete on Argent Trek Mexico City, May 21, ■ Jorge Negrete, Mexico's leading romantic screen actor and top radio singer, is out of Mexican films and radio until about next August. He has gone to Buenos Aires to fill dales at Radio Belgrano, big Argen- tinian web. After that he goes to Chile, Peru and Venezuela for radio work. .■ .' Mercedes Caraza, contralto who sang at U. S. training camps during I lie war. is also on a tour of radio stations in Cuba. Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti. Vene- zuela and Colombia until Septem- ber. ' London. Gets 'Kingmaker' 1 London, May 21. "The Kingmaker," which -opened at th e Si, .lames May 14, was warm- ly received by audience but got lukewarm press as an overlong. episodic, historical play. I First ,Io!>n Clements actor-man-.' after venture will likely, succeed *'lien alternating later in repertory. Dolores del Rio Inked For Argent; Raw Film Situation Better Now Buenos Aires, May 10. AAA fArtistas Argentinos Asocia- dosV lias confirmed that its special rep .in Mexico, cinemactor Francisco Petron'e, of" "Guerra Gaucha" fame, has signed up Dolores del Rio for picture making in Argentina. The Mexican star is to make, two pix. one teamed with Petrone and the other with Angel Magana. Lopez Figueroa, the star's special camera- man, is to accompany her. June is talked about as the pos- sible month for Miss del Rio's ar- rival, and all the scenarists in Buenos Aires are angling for an in- vitation to write her screen stories. Now that raw stock, is in plentiful supply once more, all the studios are hoping to import foreign talent, which may compensate for the trek of top Argentine stars to Mexico and elsewhere. Jorge Negrete's ar- rival is - heralded to take place within the next , few weeks.. Arturo dc Cordova may follow and there is even talk of making pix with Maurice Chevalier and Lucienrie Boyer during their brief stays in Buenos Aires in the current season. Meanwhile, Juan Carlos Thorry, Argentine fihndom's favorite juve lead, is still On tour with his and Gloria Guzman's musical comedy company, and from Venezuela where it is currently playing; will move on to Mexico, Cuba, U: S. A. • on a- tourist basis) and then to Spain. They do not plan a return until 1.947. As for the raw stock situation, the U.S. announcement that restric- tions on shipments to Argentina would be lifted, was badly timed, coming right on top of the arrival of the first Belgian supplies and their ceremonial distribution by the Minister of the Interior. The na- tionalist Argentines point to this liming as proof of their victory over U.S. interests which have been try- ing to suppress Argentine film ac- tivities, exercising unfair ■ competi- tion by refusing to supply celluloid, that it was the Argentine govern- n.or.l which seized raw stock sup- plies for filming propaganda pix, or lor black market manipulations. Current London Shows London, May 21. "Arsenic £ Old Lace," Strand "Better Lale," Garrick. Ballet Klysees, Adclphia. "fan Can," Adclphi. "Kifty-Kifly," Strand. "Fine Feathers," Wales. "First Gentleman," Savoy. "Follow the Girls," Majesty's. ••Frieda." Kmbassy. "Can? Show," Stoll. "(liiinea riff," Criterion. "Hasty Heart," Aldwych. "Here Come the Boys.'J^Saville. "High Time." Palladium. "Honeymoon," York's. "Lady Edinburgh," Playhouse. ■''Make 11 a Dale." Duchess. "iHan About House," Piccadilly. "Mr.rrie England," Princes. "Nljfbl and Music," Coliseum. "No Medals," Vaudeville. "So Room At Inn," Winter Garden. "l'ri-ehaure to Dream," Hipp. ■"Private, Lives," Apollo. . "Shop Sly Corner,'? St. Marlins. "Sleeping Beauty," Covent. "Song of Norway," Palace. "Sweetest and Lowest," Ar.ibnss. "The Kingmaker," St. .Tame";. "Uorirr the Counter," Phoenix. •-While Sun Shines," Globe. "Wind Is Ninety," Apollo. "Wiinlf rinrre's 'Kan,*' Hay market . ■•Worm's View," Whitehall. Stu Doyle Left $312,000 Sydney, May 10. The late Stuart F. Doyle, one- time film tycoon here, left an estate valued, at $312,000. Doyle, after his bowout of Greater Union Theatres, went into the industrial field and handled wartime contracts. He was also chairman of directors of Com- monwealth Broadcasters, ; top com- mercial operators. Doyle left his estate to his wife and daughter. . Gambling Kayo Ups Brazil's Pix Gambling coin initially headed for the plush casinos of Brazil is winding up at the film houses with an accompanying boost in the b.O. take. Latest illustration of the.prin- ciple that amusement cash blocked off from the green tables by an of- ficial clampdown will find its way to the film tills was pointed up re- cently, when first-run Rio houses scored substanital gains coincident with the. Brazilian government de- cree shuttering all gambling spots throughout the country. Nabes also gained In a'lesser de- gree, h.o. foreign execs report. TEG OF MY HEART' REVIVED IN PARIS 'Paris, May 15. Current revival by Robert Ancelih of the French adaptation of "Peg of My Heart" at his Porte Saint-Mar- tin merely evidences again how, un- der current conditions, local' pro- ducers are attempting to avoid all* risks, aiid play safe by refraining from staging, new shows. . The Yves Mirande and Maurice Vaucajrc adaptation of Hartley. Manner's old play has been a money- maker here whenever and wherever shown. Rather than take a chance for the. end of the summer season, Ancelin preferred reviving it. Show has been nicely produced with Fran- coise Delille, formerly of the Com- cdie Francaise, in the title role. Aussie Pressure Up for Sunday Films, Unions Stymie 7-Day Week U.S.-British Loan Deal Affects Aussie Earnings . Sydney, May 10. Any. lifting of dollar takeaway re- strictions will, so it's learned in of- ficial quarters, depend upon the financial setup between U.S. and Great Britain on the loan question. If loan goes through okay, it can be taken lor granted that wartime dollar restrictions will be relaxed, meaning that artists coming this way will be able to take coin away on contract completion. A loan taboo would me.'in coin takeaway exit. Exams for Austria's Actors Hits Neophytes Vienna, May 20: A system of rigid examinations for actors intended to clear the field of uiiialented newcomers has been placed in ell'ccl here by Gov- ci'itmout -agencies. The system, actu- ally a resumption of the prewar regulation, is under the direction of Enuneriek Arleth. as head of a sec- tion in the Austrian Employees Union. The organization of theatre owners, operating in conjunction with the Union, will grant employment only to aelors holding certifications of having passed Government tests. Applying to aelors of Austrian orisih only. Ihe system of examina- tions had been in use until 1938 when Austria was taken over by the Germans.. Under current regulations, foreign'.talent entering the country will be granted permits .to perforin in Austria only after approval by the Union, HUNTER BACK TO SYDNEY Sydney,, May 10, - Ted Hunter, who came here two years ayo Willi Harry Watt to aid iii the production ot "Ovcrlandcrs." handling some of the local cutting, is'returning here to break into pic production solo. Mas no connection this time with EM inc. Studios, who produced ''Overlandcrs." Hunter is so keen lo get back to Ausrie. that he's coming by plane. Mex. Studio Bonds Sold Mexico City, May 21. Best selling bonds on the local market is the $6,500,000 (Mex) issue of mortgage securities of Producto- ras Asociados Mexicanos floated to complete the $14,000,000 (Mex) financing of film studios and labs at Churubusco, local suburb. Bonds were bought up within a few days after they were put on the market by a local banking syndi- cate. 290 of 328 Aussie film Features Are from U.S.; Only One Nixed in 1945 Sydney, May 10. Chief Censor J. O. Alexander nearly clean-sheeted Aussie censor- ship by only rejecting one film in over past 12 montlis—an alltimc record for Down Under zone. Of the 328 feature films imported over 1945. 290 came from the U.S., 25 from England, with 13 coming in from outside foreign zones, mostly Russia, for -.which, presently there is little market. Censor remarked that there had been, a sharp increase in the 16m previous year. Protest on Stage Held At Comedie Francaise Paris, May 15. Instead of bringing down the cur- tain after the first act of the May 8 performance of "Voyage de M. Pei> richoh" at the Comedie Francaise. the entire theatre personnel went on the. stage and. before an approving; audience, held a protest meeting which lasted 15 minutes. Idea is, rather than to call a strike, to pub- licize their discontent because they have been promised satisfaction for their various claims but no action has- been taken. The Opera and Opera Comique personnel, which had gone on a strike darkening both houses for a week for similar reasons, have just resumed work after prompt action was promised them. A similar promisie had already been made fol- lowing a short previous strike, after which work had been resumed. The second strike might have lasted longer, but it was felt that insisting on immediate action when the cur- rent election fever was taking all the minister's lime would bring no favorable result. All three houses are government controlled. Opera manager Maurice Lehman, claiming his health is poor, wants to resign. At the Comedie Francaise, the resignation* of some of the best talent, who threaten to form an op- position rep company, is creating a difficult situation. ♦ Sydney, May 10. Pleas are going forth to govern* ment to okay cinema openings Sun- days.! Cinemas got green light for Sabbath screenings during war era when U.S. and British servicemen had no place to go but the pix. . With khaki fadeaway, government immediately nixed Sabbath cinemas. City is bluer now than before, ex- cepting for a few .orchestral-concerts, a couple of free radio shows, and band concerts in the parks, latter not so hot with winter's chilly blasts. Nights in Aussie presently meair seated round the radio by a ilri on the Sabbath span. -,' r ■ Main opposition to any Sunday cinemas coir\es from the unions, principal argument being that six days weekly is ample for folks to seek entertainment; Sunday, union leaders say, should be given over to outdoor relaxation where possible, and cinema employees should not be made to toil while office folk and other workers play. Stanley CrickV former, toppci for 20th-Fox here, now out of the movie biz and in city politics, being an al- derman on City Council after three, terms as mayor, said recently that cinemas are open in most Lig cities of the world, and labor thus em- ployed is- fully protected by gelling a duy Vt for relaxation duvin-; the week. McLeod Bolton, acting state, presi- dent of the Returned Soldiers' Assn., said that Australia is well behind other countries in providing Sabbath entertainment. Takeaway of cine- mas screening previously for ser- vicemen left a big. vacancy that needed' revising in order to provide more harmless . entertainment on Sundays for the general public, Bol- ton opined. Heavy Pressure It's believed here that the pressure will be heavy for a less Vigorous de- nial of Sabbath shows in this, and other Aussie cities, in the not too distant future. Radio is getting by with.tree air performances in studios and special auditoriums set aside for the public to watch flesh-blood talent before the mike. There's no stoppage by officials of Sunday shows making no charge tor admission, as is the case with radio, copping heavy dough from sponsors. Pic operators can't do likewise; dough has to come via the boxoffice, . not even via collection; places, gen- erally bringing Jn only .minor coin when tried previously, plus a lot of dimes, buttons, and counterfeit stuff, heartburning to the pic people, in- cluding the dislribs. dcfinit:ly not in . the biz just for free. Churches are naturally opposea to Sabbath cinemas. But church attend- ances are so poor presently that some ministers arc-toying with the idea of pulling in pix to bolslci up attendances. Film Reviews Continued from pace S|M»«i>r of Ihe Howe knife, several times to the gal's throat, but ends up instead by making a jjrcal ballet leap through the window to his dr;illi in the street below. The ballerina returns lo the troupe. . All this is against a serio-comic and satirical background of the bal- let's company's travails, financial and otherwise, in staging a tbllV. Miss Anderson is the troupe's mentor. An- ton Chekhov Ihe comic impresario; and two actual ballet dancers, Ivan Kirov and Viola Essen, the boy and girl. SUuidcr is a Greenwich Village poet who seems to be in the film for no other reason than to mouth llechlisnis. Michl's direction and dialog give the acting a sty I i zed artifWidlily that grows on Ihe spectator as the picture progivsses. Satire of the character- izations makes many of the film's people, virtually caricatures.. In this framework. Kirov gives a pcriorni- aiice tlr.il inarks him as an interest- ing possibility for future roles. Miss F.sscn 'is likewise considerably more linn adequate thespieally. a.-: well as in her-bullet work. Anions aspects of the picture thai is :-ifrc to. bring Torth comment is prolii'bl.v one of the nmsi c^-iling love sci nes ever put on film, despite the !";:<-( Ihe participants never "get closer than four feet. It's sharply .'done! via dialog, camerawork and (uttin:4. Hechl's dialog, incidentally. Is oll.-u vivid, discerning and epler- laining; Trouble is that there's too niucli of it and it's too lrcnii'.">lly used in iil;»ee of action.' Herb. RUSS WRITER SUGGESTS EXCHANGE OF PICTURES Hollywood. May 21. Konslanlin Mikhailovich Simo- nov, Soviel screen writer currently on a lour of this country sponsored by the State Depart, recommended a program or American pictures for screening in Russia. "With the production of features and musicule resumed over there since the war." Simonov said, "I be- lieve an exchange plan, could b* arranged for more, of your pictures lo be shown in Russia." FitzPatrick's S^. Junket Hollywood, May 21. James A. Fit'/.Patrick leaves for South America this summer to make four shorts depicting postwar con- ditions in Brazil- and Argentina. His "Looking at London" will be the first release of his new Travel- talk .series for Metro release. Fuller Threatens Fight Sydney, May. 10. C.'erlii'ui .interests in the irajor site recently .-uiglcd fur.by the Fullers hi Casllerei-h si reel, this city, right next door In ace Prince'.. Edward- cinema, are now reported as trying to exit deal. Sir Ben Fuller, who planned mod- ern office buildin'j. plus.'cinema, ca- baret, etc.. says that he'll fiv.ht any aclion to nix deal with, every cent he 6« us. '