Variety (May 1946)

PICTURES Wednesday, May 29, 1946 U Looks Hottest (or Enterprise Release; Loew, Einfeld Back to NX Hollywood, May 28. ■♦ S. Charles Einfeld and David Loew are slated to leave lor N.T. on Friday (31) to wind up discus- sions on distribution outlet for En- terprise Productions, with Universal understood to be retting the nod. Einfeld and Loew, Enterprise heads, reportedly feel that U can provide the best outlet for their indie producers, after huddling with Nate Blumberc and Bill Scully In N.Y. during the last week. Every dlbirib company in the film industry, except Warners, Metro and Para- mount, are understood to have put In a bid for the release of Enterprise product Murder at the B.O. Texarkana, Texas, May 28. With some regions being hand- icapped .by polio, other sections ,being damaged "by storms, this community found its theatri biz cut due to Ave unsolved mur- ders here in the past five weeks. Localites are afraid to venture from their homes at night. Killings were attributed to some "phantom." Biz was also reported off in neighboring towns as well. With a fistful of potential distrib- ution deals to kick around, in Coast confabs during the next few weeks, Charles Einfeld and David Loew are aiming to be back in New York for inking of a releasing pact for their Enterprise Productions within a few days. They've come to no con- clusion as yet, but Universal con- tinues to look like the hottest-pos- sibility. Loew and Einfeld, after endless huddles in the east with reps of Columbia, Universal, United World, RKO and United Artists, returned to the Coast last week to mull the possibilities. There was wide vari- ance in the type of deal they were talking with the different companies, but emerging from all the confabs was the impression that the Enter- prise partners were hunting for more than the ordinary percentage distribution setup. They're appar- ently aiming, if possible to arrange, to attain an equity in the company tHrough which they distribute. Con- sensus in the trade was that they might get some more or less minor concessions beyond the normal per- centage distribution pact, but un- likely they'd wind up with much more. Efforts in the duection of RKO were reported to be a deal patterned after David O. Selznick's with United Artists. Selznick gets a one- third stock interest in the company, when he delivers 10 pictures. Ein- feld and Loew were said to be seek- ing from Floyd Odium a" chunk of his stock, which gives him a con- trolling interest in RKO, after they had delivered a block of pix. Odium is said to have nixed the scheme." From II to UWP In One Tear? Reports on the U talks were that they envisaged a deal whereby the company would handle Enterprise product for one year, at the end of which time it would go to UWP. In the interim, UWP would be enabled to build up enough manpower and facilities to take on the added films. What is certain now is that Enter- prise product will not go to UWP the first year. One of the things that has given the Enterprise execs trouble in set- ting a deal is that they must at the same time arrange distribution for the Harry Sherman westerns. They took on the Sherman commitment when they leased his studio from him. Number of distribs have indi- cated they'd like the top-budgeters Loew-Einfeld promise to make, but they have no room on their release skeds for the paters. Loew and Dave Tannenbaum, En- terprise attorney, who was also east, stopped in Washington on their Yearling Key Pic To Metro Saks Chicago, May 28. Speaking for Louis B, Mayer, who was detained on the Coast, Howard Dietz, vice president over publicity and advertising, told the Metro sales meet here yesterday (27) that the firm's biggest selling efforts for this year or next, depend- ing on when 'The Yearling" is re- leased, will be concentrated on that film in their biggest exploitation job since "Gone With the Wind." Whether it's 1946 or 1947, that year will be termed in plugs as "The year of The Yearling'," he said. Accompanied by Howard Strick- ling, studio publicity director, Dietz also went into campaigns on such coming product as "Till the Clouds Roll By," "Greien Years. "Gallant Bess" (formerly "Star From Heaven"), "Woman of My. Own," 'Summer Holiday" (formerly "Ah, Wilderness"), "High Barbaree," "Lady in the Lake," "Secret Heart," "Sea of Grass" and "Undercurrent." Dietz also stated Metro is levelling its publicity on a crop of younger players on the lot, including Tom Drake, Peter Lawford, Jane Powell, Beverly Tyler, Jackie "Butch" Jen- kins, Cyd CharUse, Audrey Totter and others, " In celebration of William F. Rodgers' 10th anniversary as sales manager, a banquet was given in his honor in the grand ballroom of the Drake hotel, at which time Jack Flynn, midwest sales manager and host, presented Rodgers with a leather book containing Signatures of every member of the distribution force in the U. S. and Canada. Dietz (Continued on page 10) Wurtzel Inks Fox Pact Hollywood, May 28. Sol Wurtzel inked a new contract calling for production of three more moderate budget pictures for re- lease through 20th-Fox. Currently Wurtzel is negotiating for stage space -at the Hal Roach Studio. No spare room is available on the 20th-:Fox lot. MPA Not To Air Its Side of 'Outlaw' Fight Despite Court's Ruling Motion Picture Association is in- tending to make little, if any. use of the right it won in the N. Y. federal court last week to publicly air its side ot the controversy with Howard Hughes over advertising on "The Outlaw." Revision of the re- straining order, readily assented to by Hughes' counsel, gives the MPA nothing but the privilege of further exploiting a film that has already had too much exploiting,' as far as the MPA is concerned. Change in the restraining order came Friday (22) during hearing before Judge John Bright on Hughes' move for temporary injunction to keep the MPA from.withdrawing the Production Code Administration seal from "The Outlaw" because. Hughes had used ads which were disapproved by MPA. Judge Bright reserved decision. Judge Vincent Leibell had pre- viously issued the restraining order to keep MPA from withdrawing the seal or taking any other action what- soever pending the injunction hear- ing. It was an amendment to this restraining order that gave the MPA the privilege of presenting its side of the controversy. Injunction pica grows out of the $1,000,000 triple-damage anti-trust suit filed by Hughes against the MPA. On that score it was clearly evident from Judge Bright's . ques (Continued" on page 10) Rep to Hypo Use Of New Trucolor Process Hollywood, May 28. Increased use of the new Trucolor process and . a possible boost in film rentals were announced by Herbert J. Yates at Republic's regional meet- ing of western exchange execs. Tru< color process is a development of Magnacblor, which Republic has been using recently in a series of westerns starring Monte Hale. UN WILL LEAN HEAVILY ON FILMS, AMPA TOLD The United Nations will lean heavily on films to propagandize its aims because "of all information media we feel -motion pictures can do most in a more permanent man. ner to create good will," Benjamin Cohen, UN" asst. secy-general, told members of the Associated Mo- tion Picture Advertisers at a lunch eon meet yesterday (28). Unique advantage of' films which has in fluenced the UN decision, he added, is that it materializes ideas into actipn and has the faculty of com bining the written and spoken word, UN will use all types of film for informational purposes includ ing Hollywood product, 16m pic tures documentaries and educational films. Such pictures will be perma nent in character and therefor al ways available, Cohen said. Meet was attended by industry toppers including Jack Cohn, Columbia veepee; Malcolm Kingsberg, RKO theatre head; Ned Depinet, RKO chief; and Francis Harmon of the Motion Picture Assn. "Color is on the march," Yates ^y.. 10 th 5 ^ oas . 1 lai * y e . ek . t0 ? ce told the .salesmen; "In my opinion Civilian Production Administration officials on the nix they had given to building of improvements oh the Enterprise lot. Geraldine Mayvord into the post of assistant publicity director in charge of magazines and art for En- terprise'. Femme flack is currently national editor of mags and art for David O. Selznick. Switch is due early next month following windup of loose ends at the Selznick office. Ent. Starts 'Ramrod' First Enterprise picture, "Ram- rod," went into work at Zion Park, Utah, this week, less than three months after Charles Einfield and David Loew . announced the forma- tion of the production company, Schedule calls for six weeks on location in Utah, with Joel McCrea and Veronica.. Lake as co-stars, Andre DeToth directing and Harry Sherman producing. color today is in the same position as was sound in 1928. Republic intends to meet the demand with the jntro duction and use of its new and im proved Trucolor formula." Haning Stays on at SEG Hollywood, May 28. . James Haning, who turned in his resignation two weeks ago as execu tive secretary of the Screen Extras Guild, has consented to remain in office until current negotiations with the film studios for a new labor con' tract are completed. Guild's board of directors refused to accept Haning's resignation until the contract problem is cleared up Goldwyn Renewing RKO for 1 Year Until He Sets His Own Distrib Co. ranee Sips Pact Mowing U. S. Pix To Compete for 68% of Screen Time The New Order Bob Case, manager of two Walter Reade houses in Kings- ton, N. Y., thought he was all set to get a lot of trade from Rhinebeck, across the Hudson, when a new ferry service opened last week. It didn't work that way, however. Ferry crew, finding a line of cars waiting on the first night'to get across in time for the shows, interviewed each driver. In- formed by all the motorists they . were just crossing on a pleasure jaunt, crew said, "Nuts, we'rfe going home to dinner." With which they closed down the ferry for the night. Ferry hands are now agitating for daily fi p.m. closing, with merchants fighting to keep the boats, running until after show- time. With Samuel Goldwyn finding dil- I of his output by RKO. At the end of Acuity in lining up producers he con-.I the RKO contract, the producer siders suitable partners in his pro- jected distributing company, he's I would 1 give up that connection and concentrate all his product in the new firm. Export Assn. May Tap Distribs Again Motion Picture Export Association is-- expected to make another levy shortly, on its eight member com- panies to further finance its activi- ties as it swings into full gear. Par-' ticipants will save considerable coin, however, as result of the decision to name Irving Maas, of 20th-Fox, y.p. and general manager, and to skip the idea of bringing in a big-name prexy from outside the industry. MPEA members, consisting of the eight major companies, have to date each made one $5,000 contribution to get the organization under way. A big bite has already been taken out of that; however, which will require that another tap be made. Next one should be in accordance with the agreed-upon formula, based on do- mestic receipts of the various members. MPEA is currently negotiating for office space on Fifth avenue. New York, and is aiming to build up a comprehensive and expensive staff by acquiring a man from, each of the eight participating companies. This staff will work almost entirely abroad, supervising the work of other association employees in the various countries. Maas, who is second in command to Murray Silverstone in handling the affairs of Fox International, has been loaned by that company to the MPEA for three years. Working with him will be Robert E. Vining, re- cently appointed aide to Carl E. Milliken, secretary of the Motion Picture Association, who has been handling the latter group's foreign affairs. Vining has now been named aide to the MPEA prcz. Gerald Mayer, also recently named a . Milliken assistant, will continue in that capacity, holding daily hud- dles with Vining to coordinate the activities of the two agencies. Eric Johnston, prexy of the MPA, is dou- bling as head of the Export body. Johnston has informed film company toppers that he intends giving a sub- stantial part of his time to interna- tional affairs, especially in relation to policy questions. Method of supporting the MPEA organization when it gets fully into the process of distributing abroad will be by assessments in proportion to each company's gross domestic in- come. How many pictures from each company the MPEA distributes will have no bearing on the assessments. Only aim will be to get the best, pix for export, no matter what their source. Charles Mayer, recently appointed rep of the Export Association in Japan and Korea, is slated to leave New York this weekend for the Orient. Washington, May 28. Agreement whereby American pic- tures would be free to compete for playing time in France nine weeks out of every 13 was signed today by Secretary of State James F. Byrnes and Leon Blum, France's special envoy on trade. As result of the 750- word pact, which becomes effective next July 1, around 32% of theatre playing time in France is reserved for French pictures as compared with the previous quota which gave them about 40%. Under this understanding between the U. S. government and that of France, the screen quota rules could not continue for more than four years, and could conceivably be altered so that at the end of two years, the exhib in France would, be forced to show local product. only three' weeks per quarter. The pact operates so that as the French industry becomes stronger and is able to turn but better com- peting product, French exhibs will, not be forced to show so many na- tive-made films. It stipulates that if in the first two years of the agree- ment's operat ! dn, French theatres show more than four weeks of French-made product per quarter, the exhib would have to pluy only three weeks of French films per quarter in the next two years. French exhibs must show French- made films four weeks per quarter the first two years, in any case. French government agreed that, in the period during which the screen quota remains in force, it will impose no restrictions what- ever on the importation of Ameri- can films' in France, and that no restrictions shall be applied other than the screen quota mi exhibition of American films in France, except such restrictions as arc also applied to French films themselves. When the screen quota is abolished after four years, no restrictions on the import of U. S. films into France nor on their exhibition there shall apply excepting ^as also apply to French-made films. Escape clause provides that if the agreement is not working out as hoped, either side has the right to ask for termination or modification. But if at the end of six months no new arrangement has been made, then the terms of the reciprocal, trade agreement between the two countries shall apply. Important part of the enlire pact, as viewed by industry people here, is that it Axes no limit on the num- ber of American pictures imported into France. U. S. distributors have sought such arrangement as long as some quota was to be set up, be- cause it would enable them to get their product into France and com- pete for playing time. The main stipulation under the new setup is that the French exhib must reserve about 32% of his playing time for local product. BABSEA DRAWS 'DEADLY' Universal added "Sweet and Deadly," a mystery yarn, to Leon Barsha's production program. With several pictures well along in production, Goldwyn apparently fears that he'll find himself without adequate releasing facilities if the planning to ink a new one-year pact shortly with RKO. It was empha- sized by his office, however, that the new distribution agreement in no wa_y precludes Goldwyn's plans for RKO pact is now renewed. Man gojng ahead with his own releasing power and other shortages, as well company. • ■ an the difficulties of getting the part- If satisfactory arrangements can | ncrs lined up, he figures will make be made with acceptable partners, establishment of the new outfit take Picture will be made in late sum- Goldwyn will proceed with the new J too long to depend on it for the rc- mer, under executive supervision of j outfit at once. It will operate sjrnul- : lease of films Rearing completion Ben Pivar f i taneously with distribution of part., now. D0Z1ER REPORTED JOINING COLUMBIA Hollywood, May 28. William Dozicr, who recently checked out of his executive post at RKO, is reported shifting to Co- lumbia. Understood Dozier has made a deal to join Harry Cbhn, studio president, as executive aide. L. A. to N. Irving Asher Lou Baum Alice Box Ted Briskin Stephen Busustow Polly Crous Edward Dmytryk William Elliott Bryan Foy Ben Goetz John J. Hill Betty Hutton Sidney Kingsley Allan Lane Tom Lewis Paul MacNamara Herman Millakowsky Arnold Moss William Pine Bryan Price Louis de Rochemont Jack Sayers Aubrey Schenck David O. Selznick Rosalind Shaffer Edward L. Walton Arleen Whelan Allen Wilson N. Y. to Earl Carroll Gene Kelly Charlie Ross L. A. N Y. to LONDON Re Connelly Bud Flanapan Marquis of Quoensberry