Variety (Jul 1946)

TABrETTS' LONDON OFFICE I St Bfertla'a tUtct, Trafultar Sqaai* INTERNATIONAL IS British Industry Seen Giving W.K. Brushotf to Plymouth Documentary London, July 9. ♦ Muzzling of a new British film of national Importance, "The Way We Live." in which Lord Astor, M p Michael Foot, M.P., and most of' the 208.000 citizens of Plymouth have taken a keen interest (many clayed in il>. seta up new records pf muddle, and caution for: the British industry, Film is the story of the famous Plymouth Plan of 1944, based on the. work oi leading architect Pa- trick Abcrcrombie, and is. a. blue- print, to show how the worst of Britain's blitzed cities can rise from the ashes. Frowned on by film execs, who thought its price of $200,000 too costly and its appeal doubtful, it was finally okayed by Arthur Hank and went into, production a year ago under direction of Jill Craigie, young scenarist and director. . Pic was finished six months ago. But dead silence succeeded, with no premiere, press show or distribu- tion being fixed. Now, judging by normal procedure it w'll be launched in.reverse. Members of the British Cabinet have seen it and liked it. The Labor Party approved it at the recent. Labor Party conference in Bournemouth. All sorts of people have liked it, including the best. And at some future time, not stipu- lated, the critics, the last to see it, may like it. Just to clinch the idea of doing everything In reverse, "The ' Way Wc Live" is being given a premiere in Plymouth and other blitzed cities before It is unspcoled in London. So one of the most seri- ous British subjects clambers into view with Marxian somersaults. Lord Astor, an ex-Lord Mayor of Plymouth: Foot, M.P. for the adja- cent Devonport constituency, and many other celebs are Seen in the film,, including architect Abercrom- *bie and 17-year-old Patsy Scantle- bury, claimed as a discovery and since given a long-term contract by Two Cities Films. '' Fears that Plymouth might rise in Its wrath at delay In showing the film apparently led to a premiere being finally set for July 29, ear- marked as a gala day for the city. "The Way We Live" runs for 65 minutes and is sponsored by Two Cities Films. Ann Todd Scrams Box London, July 8. Ann Todd, who was given her first big chance by Sydney Box in his hit film "The Seventh Veil," has clashed with Box and as result has walked out of lead in Box's latest pic, "The Brothers," adaptation from L, G. Strong's novel. Patricia Roc took her place. Hi ERLANGER'S LEGAL POST IN EXPORT ASS'N Naming of Herbert J. Erlanger last week to handle European legal mat- ters for the Motion Picture Export Assn. is believed significant in view of the fact that most of the 15 counr tries being serviced by the MPEA are in the Russian sphere. Problem of forcing a wedge for American product into those countries and of getting money out of the countries is expected to create plenty of work for a legal rep. Erlanger; still on terminal leave from the Army with which lie served overseas, is on leave of absence from Warners. He supervised all legal matters for WB in Europe with headquarters in Paris for 12 years prior to entering the service. He'll operate from MPEA's N. Y. office. MPEA office,. meanwhile, moves next week from the offices of the- Motion Picture Assn. of America, Into its own headquarters on Fifth •venue, N. V., where it will have the added space required for its stead- ily-expanding activities. U.S. 16m Farm Films To Benefit Old Irish Sod Dublin, July 10. American 16m farm films are no.w being offered for screen to farm- ing societies in Ireland by Irish Na- tional Farm Institute. First suggestion from the Insti- tute; for showing at agricultural fairs, was nixed by first area to re- ceive the offer. Claimed films would / get better showing in local halls than at fairs where other-attractions Jfler. Another member suggested that farm films should be shown in olties to counteract townsmen'6 ideas Inst all farmers are racketeers. .- Film Institute, a comparatively new body, will sponsor a four-day course in classroom instruction through 16m films for Irish teach- ers in Dublin, July 29-Aug. 3. Wil- • "aiji Fair, formerly of London Cen- JVal Film Library, will direct the course. UNRRA's'Report' In SA Via Loews ' Washington, July 16. Loew's International will distribute "UNRRA Reports to the Americas'' in Latin-America., according to an- nouncement yesterday (15) by Wil- liam Wells, UNRRA film chief. Wells, on the eve of planning for Europe, said "Because Warner Bros, was too slow in making up its mind about Latin-American . distribution, Arthur Loew has secured the short for Loew's International. UNRRA is supplying the theatrical prints in Spanish and Portuguese. '"The fact that 19 of the 48 UNRRA member countries are in Latin- America, all of them contributing to international relief.. Assures audi- ence interest in the film. Two other UNRRA shorts, 'Friends of Our Children' and 'In the Wake of the Armies,' - are being distributed in Latin-America by Peliculas Mexl- canos." Argent. Authors Would Cut Number of Foreign ns Buenos Aires, July 1. The Argentine Ministry of Press and Information, headed by Colonel Lascalea, is mulling over a. plan sub- mitted by Argentores, authors and dramatists society, to' limit the num- ber of foreign plays or translations of them when produced in theatres here. Argentores is upset over-the number of hits, .currently at Buenos Aires theatres, which are-adaptations or translations pf British or Ameri can plays. These include Agatha Christie's "10 Little Indians," "Life ■With Father," "My Sister Ruth" and Keith Winter's "Fascination." All have run over the 100% perform ances. Argentores requested that at least 50% of all plays produced should be of Argentine authorship. Theatre managers and producers pointed out that their patriotic efforts are stymied by the scarcity of good dramatic material by local authors. The snafu is that the local drama- tists prefer working for screen and radio and are no longer anxious to risk their reputations by turning out play* which may flop. The nationalists, who sponsor the idea of restricting foreign adapta- tions, may find it hard to answer the producer's argument that if State- subsidized theatres, like the National Comedy theatre and the Municipal theatre, find the production of Ar gen tine plays a risky investment, the independent producers certainly are justified in going their own way and producing translations of foreign plays more certain of being hits: What ii'really wrong with the Ar- gentine legit stage is the shortage of theatres. Argentores has been study ing prospects for building a theatre of its own ADELAIDE'S VAUDEE Adelaide, June 26 Fullers switch first-run film policy at Majestic he.re to vaude-reyue next September. This spot played Metro, Columbia, Par and Warners product for years. Vienna Takei Over Oroheitra Vienna, July 2, City of Vienna' plans .to take over the Vienna Symphonic. Orchestra, calling il (he Orchestic of the City of Vienna. Director Hans Swarowski is slated to head the new company. Russ Fihngoers' Annual Total Only 525,000,000 Washington, July 16. Soviet Russia had 15,425 film houses operating last year which which played to-a total audience of 525,000,000, according to the U. S. Dept. of Commerce. This Is in ad- dition to those who saw films in clubs, schools, military bases, etc. Figures, from Soviet sources, dis- close that Russians turn to pix very little for entertainment. The 625,000,000 for a full year contrasts with the estimated 90,000,000 tickets sold weekly for U. S. film theatres. Soviet, according, to the report, now has 16 producing studios in operation. News and documentary films are turned out in Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev, Rostov and . 12 other . cities. Studios in Moscow, Leningrad, Novosibirsk and Kiev have special facilities for production of popular science films. Russians claim that the Red Army made extensive use of motion pic- tures during the war. It was re- ported that about 10,000,000 feet of film were shot on the different fronts. Manila Show Biz Booms With Pix Theatres Packed Manila, June 25. There's a revival in all branches of show business in full swing here, with film theatres in the van and representing the biggest enterprise in Manila's amusement field. While some houses still have old equip- ment,, they are looking for new apparatus, and technical aid from the U. S.' Most cinemas arc financed by local capital and operated al- most entirely by native talent, with local executives managing the spots. Film houses, vaudeville theatres, bars, restaurants and night clubs have sprung, up here like mush- rooms since the liberation. Some idea of the entertainment industry is gleaned- from the fact that a major portion of the government's revenue, recently revealed, now . is coming from show biz taxes, prin- cipally stemming from picture thea- tres. The latest addition to Manila's downtown picture houses, now num- bering more than 12 first-run thea- tres, is Life theatre, a'rehabilitated pre-war: house which reopened this month.. Only a few days previously, Bataan theatre. Manila's first large, modern one to be built since libera- tion, was opened. Both opened to packed houses. Life's premier picture was Colum- bia's "A Thousand and One Nights." City only had nine first-runs before the war. ' Native Producer! Active Filipino picture producers are also staging a comeback. They have produced several pictures, mostly dealing with the resistance move- ment in the Philippines. In the fore-front are Sampaguita Pictures, Palaris Films. LVN, Luz-V-Min, Santa Maria Pictures and AR-VI Pictures, Inc. Last named com- pany's first production "Prima Donna," featuring Philippines'star, Miss Jovita Fuentes, is scheduled for release in July. Among the latest vernacular pic- lures "Blood of the Nation", dis- tributed by Palaris Films. It was produced and directed by Fernando Ppe, who was a' guerilla officer in the war. Another new Tagalog pic- ture currently making a hit here is Sampaguita Pictures' "Orphan Flag", another picture about Fili- pino guerillas. Lead is played by Jose Padilla, a former underground officer. Now having its preem is LVN's musical. "I Remember You". Incidentally, the title was derived from a song written by the wife of late President of Philippines, Mrs. Aurora Quezon. Another LVN production, almost completed, is "Victory Joe," story of a GI's experiences in the Philip- pines, featuring Rogelio de la Rosa and Norma Blancaflor. Its . dialog will be 75% English instead of all Tagalog. Luz-V-Min. another new company, finished a picture filmed against the background of war and Jap occupation entitled.' "They Die to Live." There is an English ver- sion ot this finished. Arg. Producers, Feuding Exhibs, Mark $2,500,000 for 10 Native Picture Houses Fried Joins Par Int'l Raymond Fried, , formerly with Psychological' Warfare Div., U.S.' Army, has joined Paramount as exec of the foreign theatre division, un- der direction of Clement S. Crystal, George Weltner, prez of Par' Inter- national, announced last week. Practicing law in Chicago prior to the war, Fried was in service four and a half years, rising from private to It. colonel. He will re- main at the Par homeofflce approxi- mately a month before being sent on his first assignment, abroad. Mexican Rivalry Still Arg. Bugbear Buenos Aires, June 27. Mexican competion continues to be the chief bugbear of Argentine studios.' When; Jorge Negrete was feted by Argentina's pix industry before returning home to Mexico after his p.a. tour, l.e stated-that between them Mexico and Argentina could wrap up the Latin-American market, if they could only get to- gether. But as Argentine produc- ers see it,'Mexico already has the package wrapped up. For one thing, the Mejicanos are better equipped technically. Their largest studio has 16 sets, whereas the . best equipped-Argentine studio has only three. Then again, through- out the "neutrality" years of the war, Argentine studios have been unable to renew cameras and equip- ment. Added to this, the Mexican studios have been snaffling all the top Argentine talent, with Argentine stars contributing in great part to the Mexican success. Nevertheless, the grosses benefit the Aztec and not the Gaucho country. Agitation is on to prevent top talent,, like Hugo del Carril, Amanda Ledesma, Fran- cisco Petrone, Luis Sandrini, Li- bertad Lamarque and Nini Marshall, from making their work in Mexico permanent. % Through Cinematografica Inter- amerlcana, Negrete is expected to make an Argentine pic some time next year, and there is likelihood of Dolores del Rio, Arturo de Cordova and possibly Cantinflas coming down to make pix in Buenos Aires, j This may offset the scarcity of tal- ; ent caused by the Mexican exodus. Buenos Aires, June 27. During the last two years there has-been much ill feeling between Argentina's major studios and ex- hibitors. Producers complain of ex- hibs' greediness, while latter ap- parently want to make profits by giving patrons good entertainment —and good entertainment means foreign pix. In effort to offset protectionist measures imposed by che Peron govt, at instigation of producers, exhibs: formed a cooperative of their own and threatened to. enter the pro- duction field. This scheme fell through, after much coin went down the drain. Now the producers are about to launch into the exhibiting game. Lumiton, San Miguel and Argentina Sono Film have inked a deal which calls for a capitalization of ten mil- lion pesos ($2,500,000) for construc- tion of 10 first-run theatres, which' are to feature pix turned out by the three studios. This deal, according to studio spokesmen, will finally solve the problem of exploitation of national product. British film interests have also come up again'st distribution diffi- culties and after investigating the Argentine market, have come to the conclusion that it is impossible to set up their own distribution, as all the theatre chains are tied up with Hollywood distributors. WB Foreign Execs Rolling In for Int'l Sales Meet Aug. 5-7 Warner Bros, execs from all-parts of the globe are beginning to ar- rive in the U. S. for the company's international sales convention, being held Aug. 5-7 in Atlantic City dur- ing the week of WB's celebration of the 20th anni of talking pictures. Among the early arrivals is Max Milder, managing director for War- ners in Great Britain, who landed in New York over last weekend (14). A. L. Caplan, general manager in China, arrives on the Coast this week, and after a short stayover in Hollywood will head for New York. Representatives from South America and other European countries are due in New York before the end of the month. Harry M. Warner is currently in New York, handling preparations for the convention to- gether with other h.ol execs. Units On Irish Location Dublin, July 11. Location work on "Black Nar- cissus" for Archer Films is being directed by Michael Powell at Kil- larhey with Joy Rawlins and Shaun Noble. Stars are Sabu and Deborah Kerr; studio work is being done at Pinewood Studios, recently de- requisitioned by British Army and returned to Rank organization. Frank Launder and location unit from Individual Pix arrives next week for Philip Rooney's "Captain Boycott" for work at Ballinrobe, County Mayo, and Newbrook, County Weslmealh. Michael Powell will be in Ireland again in the fall for location work in County Donegal on Patrick Gal- lagher's bio, "Paddy the Cope." Latest Arg-. Falling-Out Buenos Aires, July 3. Tension between producing and exhib interests continues to snafu progress in the pix industry. San Mi- guel Studios has now fallen out with the Lautaret exhibs, because its latest pic "Rosa de America" was withdrawn from the Gran Rex screen.. San Miguel has now switched to the. Lococo chain (Gran Opera, Ideal, Normahdie and Suipacka, ail first-run houses). As of July 4, the' San Miguel opus will he released at the Suipacha, which shows only Spanish-speaking pix. Lautaret's complaint was that the San Miguel "Rosa" was a b.o. flop. Patrons, they say, look to the Gran Rex for first-class Hollywood enter- tainment and "Rosa" was no compe- tition for "Spellbound" across the street at the Opera. The studio shortage has snafued AAA's schedule to start producing "Passport ifi Forgetfullness" (Pasaje al Olvido), starring Angel Magana. AAA is dickering for the Don Tor- . cuato studios. Pic is based on a story by Gabriela Mistral, Chilean poetess and Nobel prize-winner, adapted by Manzi and Petit de Murat. ' ATICA is putting final touches to "I'm an Idiot" (Soy un Tnfelizj, with Aguslo Codeca, directed by B. H. Hardy. Argentina Sono Film is to release _l'In Cold Blood" (A Sangre Fria), a Saslavsky production, fca- . turing Amelia Bence and Pedro Lopez Lagar. This is the first pic di- rected entirely by Daniel Tinayre; Interamericana will distribute. In- teramericana is also to distribute "Cancion Desesperada" (Song of Despair) a Mexican production star- ring Hugo del Carril. Russian, pix are popular in B. A. houses, and Artkino announces that "There Once Was a Girl" and "The Mocker of Bokhara" will be re- leased simultaneously at six habe theatres. French Export Sales Slip To 30% of Product Cost Compared to prewar' figures which Showed export sales covering about half the negative cost of French product, current figures make it ap- pear that French producers can now depend on exports for only about 30% returns. This seems due less to lack of de- mand than to their compulsory cash- ing of sales made in appreciated cur- rencies through the official "Office des Changes," which pays thcrri in francs at only the official exchange rate. The incentive seems strong la declare sales made on a minimum basis while arranging for an unde- clared balance, in appreciated cur/ rency to remain abroad to the pro- ducer's credit. This may also explain why French producers, though voicing approval of official plans to propitiate organ- izing foreign distribution, are not implementing them faster. Dialri- butioh figures would be more easily 1 checked than private; sales,