Variety (Jul 1946)

12 INTERNATIONAL ■■ 'VARIKTV'V I.ONUON OFFICE • 61. ,MHrlln » I'litec, -Trafntgar Bqaw Philippine Fix Industry Perks; New Houses, Production Units Set Sparked by Manila, July 10. ■, ♦' independence '.'.aim post-war impetus, the Philippine film industry is moving ahead rapidly. Production . :s picking up, new showcases are under construe-, tion, and a sure sign of-'development industry workers a>'e unionizing. Nevertheless, the islands are still in need of equipment and technical ad- vice and, most of all, according to Luis F. Nolasco.. head of Nolasco Bros. Pictures and one of the lead? ing producers, the Philippine filmers need good Tagalog or English script writers. Unique among the new film units is that backed by Mrs! Manuel Quezon, widow, of the late Presi- dent, who is-producing "Prima Don- na" through A-V Productions, Stars arc amateur with one exception, and drawn from the upper brackets-of Manila society,,purpose being to re- move the social stigma connected with films in the island. None of the performers is being paid. Pros, however, are becoming high- ly -industrialized, actors now being organized .into the Philippine Cine- ma Artists League. New organiza- tion, backed by the CIO, has caused changes, with pay increases already coming up. Union's president is Gregorio Fernandez. On the distribution end, Philip- i pine pix are returning to the Malayan market, where they were becoming increasingly popular be- fore the war. Pablo Domingo, prominent Philippine businessman who is representative of-'the Malayan Film Exchange, reported the arrival of the first shipment ■ of films, all with English dialog and Malayan subtitles. Two new houses, the Pacific, op- crated by Lopez Co., and the Centre, both equipped with air-condition- ing, have opened in Manila. This "partially olfsets recent moves by city authorities which have resulted in the closing of 11 older houses. Eight wcr£ closed for failure to pay amusement taxes on tickets sold, while three others were shuttered by authorities for failure to comply with health regulations. 'Mex. City Theatre Boom Sees 27 New Houses Set Mexico City, July IS. Mexico City is in a filmhou?e building boom. Town's 73 theatres aren't enough to handle biz and city, has granted permits for 27 hew houses. . . Seventeen are already building. Figured that these houses, with a total seating capacity, of around 60,000, will be In business before next summer. New builders include Theodore Gildred. American exhibitor, and Senercr Barbara Richardi de Avila Camiichb, whose spouse was Gen. Maxirhirio Avila Camacho, the President's brother. 'Gildred is building 'two. theatres, and Sonora Camacho one. Most of the new theatres arc. in class residential districts. Distribs I sec the new houses as opportunity I for. simultaneous screening of the same pic in two or more spots, a system stymied here by lack of enough first-run theatres. Man Film Festival, War Casualty, Resumes Next Aug. 31 in Venice Rome, July 1. The eleventh International Bien- nial Exhibition of - Cinematographic Art will be launched in Venice, Aug. 31. Object of the exhibition is to put seal of public approval oh film productions demonstrating real progress in cinematography as a means of expression in. the artistic, intellectual, scientific and ..educa- tional field. Each nation participating may be represented by a delegate of its own government or by a member of its own picture industry. The individual nations participating may enter only a limited number of features and shorts'. This number will be fixed in ratio to the total production of Fit7(nhrtMK Arthur Sf>t each 'country. Following are maxi UUglUUUlK, MU1UI i)Cl mum rcgu i Eti011s . Nnt j 0 ns producing more than 300 films per year may enter eight features and five shorts; those producing, metre than 200 films year, six full features and four shorts. For those producing more than 100 films annually, four fea- tures and three shorts and those producing more than 50 films per year, two features and two shorts. For those with 50 films or less, one feature and one short. All films presented must be prcemed. at the Festival. The head cellent Order of the British" Em-. !°* » he Exhibition has the right to pire, J. J. Filzgibbons may now i exclude any films which in his un- aflix the coveted C.B.E. after his disputed judgment do not reach a name. Jack Arthur was made a :-sufficiently high technical and Member, and is entitled to use I al t J s | li: ) cvcl - M.B.E. after his name^cven when I Prlzes wlU bc "warded to films signing checks. i rat °d 'he best on all points, for the The decoration was awarded to ; best t,ir ector, best writer, best com- Fitzgibbons for coordinating all P°scr, best actor, best aclrcss, best Canadian theatres in selling Victory cameraman and also lop documen- tary film. "Venice Biennial Medals" ions, Arthur Set Canadian Precedent By Reaching Honors List : a Toronto, July 9.' For ■ the first time in Canadian history, recognition to theatre' men for war services was given in the King's annual Dominion honors-list i to John J. Fitzgibboiis, Famous Play- ers-Canadian Corp. prez,- and Jack Arthur, Ontario dist. mgr. for FPC. As a Commander of the Most Ex- Bonds as national chairman of the Canadian Motion Picture War. Serv- ices Committee and national chair- man of the Motion Picture Section of the National War Finance Com- mittee of Canada. Arthur had been chairman of ';he Entertainment Section of the Citi- zens Committee for Troops in will be awarded to each film con- sidered best among those presented by each nation. It will be recalled that the Amer- ican film industry decided shortly before the war stnrlud to boycott the Festival, because it had become virtually. a monopoly of the Axis Labor Snag May Snarl new setup the Venice Festival prom- ises to- be unbiased/ Training which, for six years, pro-'j propaganda ministries^ Under the vided entertainment i n service ""' .r._,.. - . camps and hospitals. He was also loaned to the federal govt, to pror duce the Army Show .which toured Canada before going overseas early in the war. MAHONEY, GERAGHTY TO SHUTTER AUSSIE LEGIT Stockholm, July 11. Whether Swedish film- houses will reopen Aug. 1, after closing down for the summer months, is still a question. Answer depends on new union' contract between Cinema Workers Assn.- and the Cinema .Owners Assn. which has run into a snag, with strike' talk among the workers. If the theatres open on time, Swedish distribs plan a release schedule of 40 domestic.productions; several new American films includ- ing "The Lost Weekend" and "Leave Her To Heaven," and some 'British and Russian pix. . Brisbane. July 4. Will Mahpney and Bob Gcraghty Swede Theatre Openings ! the Royal, with biz dropping due to ' the strike situation. Duo swung to legit last December with revivals i of popular hits, played, in Sydney and Melbourne with'w.k stars; Pair will now continue . with vaude-revue at their Cremome in this city. Kiss Here to Stay? Manila, July 10. The kiss, time-honored in U.S. .films, has finally been passed by bluenbses in the Phil- ippines, and- native stars are going all out for busses. LVN's "Victory Joe," Tagalog version of "GI Joe," features Rogelio dc la Rosa and Norma Blancaflor in typicul Hollywood clinches to SRO audes. in the Manila Dalisay theatre. One local critic reported, ' This is the first really satisfying Tagalog picture 'we have ever seen . . Happiest event of all was the maturity of..the kissing scenes, Kissing used"5to be barred except, by sug- gestion. This time :io holds are barred. Orward Tagalog cine- ma, onward, romance!" Prod in Argent Studios Picks Up Lumiton's ton director, Carlos Hugo Chi'istcnsen, is going to Rio dc Janeiro for film shots for a picture with a Caripcan background.- Sono Film's Luis Cesar 'Amadori is near- ly ready to roll on a new musical, with. Pedro Lopez Lagar and Sabina Olmos in the leads. Story is by poet Pedro Miguel Obligado. Sabina Olmos was formerly a radio singer, and Lopez Lagar is a former legit actor. San Miguel Studios has shelved "La Prodiga", the picture .in which Eva Duartc, now Argentina's first lady through her marriage to Presi- dent Peron starred. Artistas Argen- tines Asociados soon oh next pic- ture, with Angel Magana starred. EFA studios is mapping an adap- tation of Oscar Wilde's "An Ideal Husband" with Santiago Gomez Cou, Tilda Thamar <\vhcn she gets back from U. S.- junket) and Ivonnc do Lys. Sono Film appointed its publicity manager, Don Raul Alejandro Apold, general manager of com- pany's newsrcel. Argentine producers arc scramb- ling for Jorge Negrcto for a film- musical "Made in Argentina." San Miguel Studios bought two or three Swedish films. So far gimmick of sub-titling or dubbing into Span- ish has held up exhibition. NEW MEX STUDIO RISES AT T1A JUANA FOR 300G Hollywood, July 16. Santiago Martinez, managing di- rector of Estudios Baja California, announced the start of construction on the studio, the first, in Tia Juana, just across the California border. Studio will be erected on 1,000-acre site at cost of $300,000, arid will be completed in 90 days. William Rowland will direct the first picture on the new lot, for re- lease under banner of International Films. It will be made in Spanish and English, with part of cast rounded up in Hollywood. That Vodka Orbit Hclsingfors, July 11. Since the war's end, Finland has become the largest foreign market for Russian films. About . 70 features are currently screening here, with more coming j in every month. Current London Shows . London,. July 16. "Arsenic & Old Lace," Strand. "Better Late," Garrick. "Ballet Theatre,": Coveht Gardsh. "Crime Si Punishment," New "Exercise Bowler," Scala. ''Flfty-Flfty," Strand. "Fine Feathers," Wales. "First Gentleman," Savoy. "Follow the Girls," Majesty's. "Frieda," Westminster. "Gan e Show," Stol). "Grand National Night,'' Apollo. "Guinea tig," Criterion. "Hasty Heart," Aldwych, "Here Come the Boys," Saville. "Illirh Time," Palladium. "Honeymoon," York's. "Lady Edinburgh," Playhouse. '.'Make It a Date," Duchess. "Merrle England," Princes. -Night and Music," Coliseum. "No Medals," Vaudeville. "No Room at Inn," Winter Garden. "Perchance to Dream," Hipp. "Portrait In Black,". Piccadilly. "Private'Lives," Fortune. "Red Roses for Me," Wyndhams, "Shop Sly: Corner," St. Martins. "Song of Norway," Palace. "Sweetest and Lowest," Ambass. "The Kingmaker," St. James, 'fUnder the Counter." Phoenix. ■ "While Sun Shines." Globe. "Windermere's Fan." Haymarket. "Winslow Boy," Lyric. "Worm's View," Whitehall. Plays Abroad David «*l H«»lliN»b«*e . Paris, July 8. Maivil Ok.-i- iiml ,\|i i l«. iHiiillli'lli'H i.l C - art )ilay by Main l ollivirr. Plirrli-I I»y I'aul <MII>. Sils l.y .M"iVurl>lir. Al Tin.- 11(11' ill" I'lti'li' 1 , July S, 'Ml. . Si'raia.. I'li'lTC M, ill' lllul.. ;.. liiKf|ih nmiiii'll ;Iu» 7.rv ;. < 'lailrtr .Ikm-Hi I'rlr ... lai'nui-s Wirl.-iv)* Dlivlil........ '. .I.'Mil.i Jlavalnliu Ili'tlisHliio Uui-ld Mfrlliii l^ii. I-Ilyalio M:i in I -.1 lii 11 Nat linn .M.iin nl'.ill i- This Biblical play is rxKvnuly strong-and moving in tlie first .three acts. In the fourth, it shows less showmanship by author Marcel Ol- livior, who lias previously scripted "Sparlakus" and ''Amours de Peron- nc." Even if it is set in Biblical times, its theme is timely, showing King David taking advantage of his position to steal the wife of a junior officer serving at'the front. Obviously produced at very little cost; with the same set used both for the king's palace and. after it has been stripped of the hanging;!, for the bare house of the poor officer, it shows big potentialities and, with a more scenic ending, looks like a sure bet. Act one shows' King David brief- ing. Bothsabec. as her husband Is about to come back after spending two years at the front. She is the king's mistress and is beaving a child. With considerable difficulty she agrees to tell her husband nothing during his short stay. Next set shows her unable to keep the pact and re- vealing to her'husband that she loves the king. In the third act, the husband agrees to say nothing and goes back to the front, but refuses to free.his wife be- fore he: returns. The king then ar- ranges for his death. Last act takes place much later, after the child, is born, and the king has married (he dead soldier's wife. But the curse of God is on him and though tic con- fesses his sin to the prophet Nathan, the sick child dies. This results in an ending where the husband has died and the wife is not on stage, which is better Bible than show biz. Louis Raymond, as the king who uses his position for his own pleas- ure but is afraid of scandal, is very good. So'is' Jacques Verrieres as I lie officer torn between his love for his wife, his shame and his respect for authority. Maria Mcriko docs well as .Bi'lhsabce. the woman who does not want 10 give up her lover, but is ashamed to make a.fool of .her hus- band. Moncorbier, as the holy man and Tierre Merle, as the king's scc- ctiiry. are very plausible. Elynne Sainl-Jcan, the servant, is a looker The whole cast has been - ably di- rected by Paul Oeltly and Cits acruss the footlights all there is in the script. Mfl.Vi. SiiniHM'r Bt ]>'oll»lll London, July 10. - 1'iii'iilHiily. i>C J^iui'. In ;iy -ii. v\ uir -.\i iD 1'i.iiiii'lli. piywcnuillon' tit play In iln'-i'C h, i.h l>y ..Tcrnsliiv .IwiiNZklcwU'ii, lra'n:<latr'l ft-,,in 'iv.l^li by Oellnti WlciilwwaUa. l) : i-L'i'i*-fi l.y ' tltiKl) AslimoYo. At Iiyilc. lJaiii'.itiMiiliii, .Tnly !l, ••III. . I'nuiil \Vo(l/.lll.lhl. I.itwmii-i' Maiii-:iy: .'i-lin v Mi'llilrn-l ..Ui.'iu- - Vaili'trllif. ..I' au .shni i lW-ili*l£0 Kami r.ally ll.i\vi.|- n 'I'lirmlni-c Houwvuu .'Ki'iinclli Alui-^aii I'l-riUrlc Chopin I'lrrlnia-r .Mnnri'-i' SiilaiiKf • Ati|.'ll.vlliic Mile. ili> Koslfl-ea... IV nllnaial Oimalil l:.j-lt.H .. Mli liaf I CmllVi'y ...l.aiiiciii-1. I'nriiM .Hi'lio Hay : Illlvr I.h.Mmii N'urli' Oymin ..la" l.ul)liii.-k. This heavy storm in Polish tea- cups—all the action is in a drawing room—is a closer approach to the Frederic Chopin-George Sand love sto/y than "A Song to Remember," but will not be remembered so long. It had a good reception at the Lyric theatre. It carries on the experi- mental policy pursued there with audacity and success. But as a play it is scarcely vital enough to gain, entry to London's theatre-starved West End. George Sand, in snappy Cawn trousers, smoking cigars alid intel- lectually emoting about her art,' is drawn as a mother of. ungrateful children, whose love affairs she is unable to control or understand. The : play develops into a vast do- mestic'brawl and only occasionally, halts to underline the relations be- tween Mme. Sand and the composer and to accuse him of base ingrati- tude. Her daughter, Solange. viciously attacks her for foisting an unwel- come marriage on her. Her son wheedles and kisses his way- to- wards various affairs as a reckless seducer, and the stage is littered with sighing sweethearts, a sculptor, an artist, Chopin, the maid—all (Continued on . page 5.2) DAVE BLUM'S 6-8 WEEK FOREIGN BALLY TREK David Blum, Metro International veepee over ad-publicity, is slated lo leave on an extended tour of Europe on Friday (19) for a •concentrated survey of the reopened foreign' mar- kets. Blum will huddle with Metro territorial rcpsre revitalizing ex ploitation and publicity campaigns for Metro product abroad. Itinerary will lake him from N. Y. to Stockholm, then to Paris. Barce- lona and London. He's due to meet David Lewis, Metro's European field chief, in Stockholm. With the French market requiring special at- tention following the signing of the Franco-American film pact, Blum is expected to concentrate on France. He'exp~ecls to be gone about 6-8 weeks. Polish Pix Prod. Plans A new indie motion picture, com- pany, Versatile Film Productions, has been formed in New York to produce in foreign countries. Initial agreement has been worked but with Film Pplski, state-owned sub- sidiary of the Polish government, to make three pictures in their, studios. Liidwig Landy, outfit's head, leaves for Poland in a few weeks to map a shooting schedule in September.. Production schedule includes three films, "The Life of Koscius- zko," "Invasion of Poland," and an untitled picture on the surviving Jews in Poland. Arrangements are also being negotiated to make a film entitled, "Song of Palestine." As- sociated with Landy are Elias Marks, a foreign film distributor, and Jack Levine, Latter two will be in Yiddish. Rank's Mexican Moves Mexico City, July 16. Eagle-Lion reported readying pro- duction of pix in English and color, sans "dubbing" in Spanish. Under- stood company will use its own staff of star and secondary players, di- rectors, etc. but may hire Mexican small part and bit players and ex- tras. - Rank enterprise is also reported dickering with the two Mexican film labor unions,. Picture Produc- tion Workers and National Cine- matographic Industry Workers, to assure smooth going. WARNERS SEEK THEATRE PERMIT FOR SYDNEY Sydney. July 4. Warners' have asked local, authori- ties for provisional approval ot plans for a new theatre, seating 1,665, on their own site in Sydney. Understood that Warners want showcase for future use. as belief is it will be five years before any new house goes up here. Warners have held the site for many years, although ?t one lime it was reported for sale.. Mex. Film Flurries Mexico City, July Following film setups i:i\..- j --t been organized: Cine Atlas, S. A. Au.-.vr:.^. '.'». 70, by . Elizabeth .i-nimh.--. d.li ghter of William .O.-T.'i' .Ici.tin:. million- aire America", film riic.Ml and sugar mill bper.-"<•■; f.uis K&piriosa Iglias. bigtimc : iiibiUir and Ing. Pascual Gutieirej, lo i-.uild and run a thea- tre;. Financiers Churubusco, S.A.. by Emilio Azcarraga who operates two local theatres and radio stations XEW and XEQ; Mauricio de la Serna, producer-director: Agustin Ahumada and Ing. Felix Viliasenor, with a paid up capital of $10,000.- 000 (Mex), to engage in pic and other activities, with headquarters at Paseb de la Reforma, No. 1435. ' Lux Films, S.A., producer, by Er- nesto Cortazar. More Footage for Ireland Dublin, July 11. -Sharp' rise in footage of pix im- ported into Ireland during the first ihree months of the year, is shown in 6ificial returns from the Dept. of In-, dustry and Commerce here. Imports in January-March totalled 1.747,663 feet, valued at $91,760, com- pared with 1,237,305 feet valued at $47,204 in corresponding.months last year. Rise is largely due to raising of ban on war Alms after VE day. KEATON'S HEX. PIX Mexico- City, July 10. Buster Keaton, originally an- nounced to come here early in Feb- ruary to debut in a .Mexican.-'pic, The Modern Blue Beard," that Ale- jandro Silkind is to produce, is how . definitely set to arrive July 18.. Production is skedded to sUrl.in August,