Variety (Jul 1946)

PICTURES Wednexlay, July 17, 1946 CIEA Would Act As Mb Agent Of Gov't Shorts; Gauntlet to ATA The Conference of Independent ♦ Exhibitor Assns. will ask the Office of War Mobilization & Rehabilita- tion in the near future to recognize It as a distributing agent for Gov- ernment sponsored films. The bid which heralds a widening battle for exhibitor leadership is designed to head off the American Theatres Assn. as the current sole distributing unit handling Government films in U. S, theatres. The move, disclosed by a spokesman for the CIEA, will be made within the next few months following completion of ratification by its member associations of the new CIEA charter. \ Apparently irked by the OWMR solo huddles with the ATA on Gov- ernment films, the CIEA topper said he saw, no reason why Government officials did not seek other outlets besides the ATA for its films. "Our organization with a membership of 6,000 theatre:, should be consulted on pictures which the Government wants to distribute'; in American houses," the CIEA exec declared. "We intend to ask the Government to clear its Alms, with us as well as with other theatre groups." Referring to ATA's rejection of "Seeds of Destiny." first postwar film for which the Government sought wide distribution, the CIEA official said that his organization might well have considered handling it had the Government made such a proposal.- No steps had been heretofore taken by the CIEA for recognition as a clearing house be- cause its organizational machinery had been too loose, he added, but the new charter now permitted this course of action. ATA execs advised of the contem- plated move said that they would not oppose it in any manner. "We've offered to work along with other theatre groups on Government film -distribution, and we're still ready to do so," one exec declared. Wlndup on CIEA ratification is ex- pected within the next 60 days. The National Allied States Assn. and the Pacific Coast Conference of Inde- pendent Theatres, two mainstays of CIEA, have already given the nod, With 16 other associations also in the yes column, only three remain to be heard from. VJS. Bows to ATA Stand, Famine Short Cut 13 Mins. • Possibility of prolonged contro- versy over the distribution of "Seeds, of Destiny," Government sponsored two-reeler, faded last week when the Office of War Mobilization and Reconversion bowed to objections raised by the American Theatres Assn. and ordered the film shelved in favor of a shorter treatment. ATA's brushoff because , of length of the • documentary and .ts "theatrical grirhness" had touched off a public controversy including a blast against the threatre unit by Bosley Crow- ther, N. Y. Times film critic. Move by the OWMR lays to rest reports that the Government would stand fast on its insistence that the film be shown as it. Substituted film which will include some clips from "Seeds'' will run four to five minutes as compared with the 18 minutes playing time of its pigeonholed predecessor. Pic is currently being produced by the Dept. of Agriculture and the U. S. Army, working in conjunction, and will be submitted to ATA execs within the next two weeks for a going-over. Switch in . Government stand represents a victory for ATA which has been urging official agencies to keep their films as short as- possible so as not to cut too deeply .into the playing time of entertainment pix. ATA officials, meanwhile, maintained that charges that the theatre unit had exercised a veto over a Govern- ment Aim were false. Their conten- tion is that a short Aim was recom- mended because wider clislrtbution could be obtained as a result of diminished exhibitor resistance. Flashback treatment in "Seeds" which depicted famine conditions in Europe while stressing the more Feld Draws'Bloomer' . Hollywood, July 16. MiHon ,H. Feld will produce Inter- national's film version of "Bloomer Girl" oh a $2,300,000 budget, with Aug. 15 slated as the starting date. Several new tunes will be added to the stage score written .by Harold Arlen 'and E.'.'Y. Harburg. • . Women's Clubs May Ban 'Bel Ami' Pic; UA Sees Another 'Outlaw' To-Do . With the decision by the Asso- ciated Women's" Clubs to boycott- "Bel Ami" forthcoming David Loew- Albert. Lewin production, United Artists might have another "Outlaw" case on its handB, in which the re- sultant publicity can help build up the. boxoffice. Technicolor production of "Ami," based on Guy de Maupassant's novel of the same name, is slated for re- lease by UA at the end of the year, with George Sanders starring. N. Y. chapter of the Women's Clubs pro- tested to the producers last week, re- questing that the film's "insulting and offensive attitude toward's wom- en's position as a public figure and a homemaker be eliminated." Effect of the film on juve audiences would be "deleterious and harmful," ac- cording to the Clubs. . Women formally notified Sanders, Lewin and Loew last week that they, could "eliminate the necessity", of a boycott by cutting the protested scenes but, so far, the producers have not agreed to change the pic- ture. Notification of the intent to boycott has been forwarded to the Loew-Lewin N. Y. office and to the Motion Picture Assn. of America. "As a result of the conference be- tween our Coast executives and the producers and star of 'Bel Ami,' we have no other recourse than to insist upon pur' members boycotting the film and Mr. Sanders," Mrs. J. D. Cahn, prexy of the Clubs, declared. "This savage criticism of women must be stopped and the presentation of the anti-feminist thoughts of a disillusioned. French in the sex-dom- inated book, 'Bel Ami,' will be firmly boycotted by the members of our organization." OVER 12,000 CONTRACTS FOR WB'S SOUND ANNI With more than 12,000 theatres already signed up for Warners' cele- bration of the 20th Anni of talking sound 1 , a record-breaking figure has already been established for theatre participation, in a private industry event. Indie theatres account for more than 9,500 of the total to date. With more exhibitors joining the fold each day. By the time the cli- mactic week of Aug. 6 rolls around, it is expected that the saturation point in number of theatres partici- pating will be reached. ' Besides carrying tag lines in their newspaper advertising and display- ing lobby posters on the -event, all of the theatres are set to play Warner pictures during . the anniversary week; Demand for press book ma- terial on Warners' special anniver- sary feature, "Night and Day," has been the heaviest in the company's history. On July 23, Cole Porter's Yale class of 1913 is sponsoring a special preview Pf "Night and Day" at the Yale Club, N. Y. The Technicolor musical, scheduled for 250 preems during the first week in August, has been booked for advance preems late this month in six situations. World premiere is set at the Holly- wood, N. Y., July 25. OK For Sound Holly wood, July 16. Widest distribution of any War- ners short subject will be given "Okay For Sound," a two-reeler tracing the evolution of the sound process from gruesome shots was n.g. so far as "Don Juan"' in 1926 to "Night and ATA execs were concerned because j Day" in 1946. Picture will commem- of claimed "over-theatrical" -tech- - prate '-the first successful public nique. ' showing of a talking picture, Aug. New documentary will have light- 6, 20 years ago. er treatment and a punchier appeal for cooperation by the public, ATA officials said. "Seeds" was backed by Over $1,500,000 From Pix to United Appeal Hollywood, July 16. Film industry's contribution to the Arst Annual United Appeal amount- ed to $1,546,080.66, according to Y. Frank Freeman, chairman . of the Permanent Charities Committee. The showing, he declared, was re- markable, in view of the prolonged- film strike. Funds will be donated, on a pro- portional basis, to the American Red Cross, the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis and several Vic- tory Chests "Jn Los Angeles county'. v ' Skooras' VJA Luncheen Spyrps Skouras,. 20th-Fox head, will host a luncheon next Wednes- day (24.) on the St. Morltz roof for the Community Committee of New York on behalf of the United Jew- ish Appeal. Among guests will be Nelson A. Rockefeller, Edward M. Warburg,: Barney Balaban, Billy Rose, Major Warner and Jack Cohh. Purpose is to enlist the aid of the entertainment industry in assisting the committee to reach its objec- tives. ' Roz Russell Tops New Indie Firm Hollywood, July 16. New indie corporation, headed by Rosalind Russell and her husband, Frederick Brlsson, was organized here with a program of 10 high- budget pictures over a period of five years. Lineup on the financial end includes Gary Grant and Dudley Nichols. Five of the pictures will star Miss Russell, who will make one picture per year for a five-year term. Grant is signed up for one picture, with options on future films. Nichols is hooked up with a dual chore as writer and director. Meanwhile, he will divide his time on screenplays between RKO and other commit- ments. CURT1SS-WRIGHT BUYS 16N MANUFTURMG CO. Curtiss-Wright Corp., seeking to take advantage, of the potentially large market for 16m equipment, has bought outright the Victor Ani- matograph Corp., manufacturers of 16m projectors and cameras. Air- craft company plans to retain intact the location, personnel and opera- tion of Victor. Alexander F. Victor will continue as director of engineering activities and Samuel G. Rose, exec veepee, continues as chief business admin- istrator. Victor is the third organ- ization not directly engaged in air- craft to be purchased by Curtiss- Wright, following the company's policy of taking over manufacturing units where engineering and addi- tional developmental resources can be put to use. the United Nations Relief & Rehabili tation Administration as part of its food conservation campaign. In addition to distribution in this country and the British Empire, the film will be dubbed in French, Spanish and Italian. It is also being made on 16m Aim for schools and colleges. Par Institutes Tele Shows to Plug Pix Hollywood, July 16. Paramount will plug its films via its television outlet here. Starting tonight with "Blue Skies" as guinea pig picture. Paramount players, props, materials and production ef- fects' will be worked into a .special program tentatively titled "Movie- own Backstage." Current releases will be plugged through use of props and dialog. Olga San Juan, assisted by Edith Head, will be televised demonstrat- ing costumes and other film dress- ing. Second film to get video treat- ment, will be "Monsieur Bcaucaire" with Marjorie Reynolds in tele spot. Behind the scenes phases of film production is expected to pull audi- ences to plugged pictures. Nebenzal Saved by Boat Hollywood, July 16. Resumption of postwar Oriental Irade saved Seymour Ncbenzal a lot of trouble and expense in the filming of "The Chase," which re- quires numerous Chinese curios. While the prop men were search- ing the town - for the necessary decorations, in came the first ship- load of same from China, destined to F. Suie One, importer. Ncben- zal bought the shipload, Charities Pan One-a-Year Policy; Mull Hat-Passing on State Level Sinclair Moves to 20th Hollywood, July 16. Robert Sinclair, currently at Co- lumbia, shifts to 20th-Fox under a term director contract. Pact starts as soon as he finishes his Columbia chore. Army Plans $1,000,000 Budget for info Films In Occupied Countries Washington, July 16. Full control of the information and educational programs for the civilian populations of U.S.-occupied countries—including films, theatres, music and radio—is being taken over by the Army from the State Depart- ment's Office of International In- formation and Cultural Affairs (OIC). Move has been under way since February. Announcement was made by Major General Oliver P. Echols, chief of the Civil Affairs Division. -New re- orientation branch to handle the job, has been set up under Lt. Col. Robert B. McRae, who has been in charge of films in the occupied countries for the Army. Unit is be- ing staffed by about 100 civilians and military personnel and will have branches in London and New York where it will use a portion of the Signal Corps' photographic center at Astoria. Pare Lorentz is being sought to head the Films and Theatres section under McRae. While a lieutenant colonel with the Air Transport Com- mand, Lorentz turned out "Over the Hump", plus more than 200 briefing shorts for ATC. If he accepts Lor- entz will operate but of. the Astoria studio and will be in charge of the production of pix' which would be made in this country for educational and cultural use in the occupied countries. Army is supposed to have over $1,000,000, earmarked for. such films. The plan is to work with the Signal Corps, film industry and other agencies to procure and pro- duce the necessary films. Army explained: "The series of films contracted for will be supple- mented by acquisition of documen- taries and shorts produced by U.S. governmental and private sources and covering agricultural, scientific, industrial and technological subjects adaptable for use in the educational program. "Based on theatre requests, the film industry will be called upon to recommend a group of feature films and short subjects suitable for ex- hibition in occupied areas. The sec- tion also will select non-dated ma- terial for ncwsreels prepared in the theatres (of operation) and, weekly, will procure and forward overseas newsreel material furnished by the newsreel companies." It was explained that in the radio field "which crosses national fron- tiers and thus includes occupied areas, OIC will retain worldwide responsibility and the Civil Affairs Division will maintain policy liaison with OIC. In addition to programs which the theatre radio staffs orig- inate in the field, the OIC shortwave program 'Voice of America' is re- broadcast in occupied areas." A music "sub-unit" wJS provide both popular and classical music for use in the occupied areas. No explanation was given about what the new organization in this country would do in connection with the live theatres in Germany and Japan. L. A. to N. Y. Robert Alda Pete Barnum Joe Bigelow Richard J. Brenner Herbert J. Carson Harry Conn Xavier Cugat ■lack Donnelly Jean Gillis Henry Ginsberg Sir Basil Holdcn Arthur Rowland-Jones George McCall Abe Olman Sigmund Romberg David Rose Bourne Ruthrauff Frank Seltzer Jack Will iams EarlWilson Len Zissu Top-ranking charities, heavily de- pendent on theatre collections for financial backing, are balking at the industry decision to limit theatre collections to one-a-year. With a protracted undercover struggle to convince industry leaders that in. dividual drives were essential now winding up in failure, the charities are considering organization of their own theatre campaigns on a regional level. Action currently on foot to sidestep' exhibitor blackballing of numerous campaigns is led by Basil O'Connor, head of both the American Red Cross and the Na- tional Foundation for Infantile Paralysis.. O'Connor's intention to refuse to permit, the March of Dimes cam- paign to be lumped with others in one drive was reportedly indicated to Nicholas M. Schenck, head of the film, division of the '46 Dimes cam- paign, in a recent huddle in which Schenck told .the charities head that the one-a-year decision must stand. Rather than permit this, O'Connor said he .would appeal to exhibs to organize drives for the National Foundation on a state level. Under- stood that O'Connor is mulling plans to set up state exhib committees for the forthcoming Dimes campaign in January, '47. ' Should O'Connor undertake the move successfully for the National Foundation, it would almost inevi- tably follow that a similar step would be taken for the Red Cross, which launches its campaign several months later. Success of such action is also generally regarded, as an opening wedge for similar action by other charities, since all regard the one-a-year limitation as slicing to the bone future collections from theatres. Exhibs Divided Meanwhile, exhibs continued di- vided over the question of whether a solo annual drive would be feasi- ble at all. Strong pressure to drop all collections in theatres continues and the American Theatre Assn.. which voted at its St. Louis, conven- tion in April for one-a-year is split widely on the question. While ATA officials continue to confer with O'Connor and other charity heads, the theatre unit will make no final decision until early in' the fall. Vote by ATA on issue is expected, probably in September, when its directors will meet to settle the question. One of three steps will be taken, officials indicate. Possibilities are a solo drive for all charities with a division of .the coin later; no plate- passing for any charity but partici- pation in publicizing the more im- portant campaigns; or settling on one charity and giving it both pub- licity and collection privileges. Opponents of plate-passing for lumped charities are maintaining that a division of the coin would prove to be an insurmountable hurdle. They argue that no fair method-could be devised to distrib- ute the cash to various organizations, and that repercussions will follow - any split of the coin. Understood that the ATA charities committee has been unable to,agree upon a satisfactory method and that the imposing difficulties faced have strengthened the hand of hat-passing foes. Situation is further complicated by community chest drives in which local theatres participate. Commu- nity chest idea is also a one-a-year proposition with a division of the proceeds among local charities. Puz- zler presents itself whether to syn- chronize a national solo campaign with the local drive so as to keep, down the number of - collections in any local house to ■ one-per-annum. In that event, division between na- tional and local charities grows even more complex. E-L's 40G 'CLEMENTINE' Hollywood, July 16. Eagle-Lion paid $40,000 for "Clementine," prize-winning novel by Peggy Goodin. Bryan Foy is seeking Barbara Whiting for the title role. N. Y. to L. A. Pal Allen Kay Campbell Sol HUrok Carl Lcsorman Jack Lloyd _ N. Y. to LONDON-PARIS Jack Forrester Leonard Lyons Paul Talbot