Variety (Dec 1946)

•VARIErr'B' tONDOS OmOB • St. Hurtln'i riace, Xrafnlcar Batim INTERBIilTIONAL 17 Argent. Income Tax Plan Up Again As Peru, Chile Retain Coin Freeze Three Latin^American countries tlueaten to furnish recurring head- aches to Aincrioan distributors in the next few months. They are Chile, Peni and Argentina. Only the latter is rated actually vital, because Chile and Peru never have: been big mar- itets for U. S. distribs. , Argentina has dug up its old fight on American film company incomes. It is trying to talte a percentage of all revenue collected in that country 8.S taxable income, despite the recent decision ot highest courts again.st tliis. It will be recalled that about seven yearjs.ago Argentina slapped on a .<!lmilav tax". After a flght through the courts for four or five years, the income tax on percentage of revenue statue was tossed out by the highest'tribunal. Odd pint about this new antas- onistic attitude towards U. S. distribs i.s that American companies and tlie U, S. government have been leaning over baclcwards to cement better re- lations between the two countries. Botli Chile and Peru have coin- freeze ideas Which the industry, still has under discussion. Contention o£ these two governments is> that the money'freezinK is necessary to main- tain their currency exchange. Atti- tude of American companies thus far is that this Is only partly true, and at letisl some money should be freed for remittance to N. Y. In case Peru and Chile remain ob- durate against holding American film company rental revenue in their countries, there is some talk of with- drawing entirel.y from diftrib in those two markets. Total amount ot revenue." is so minor tiiat some dis- tributor.s don't feel inclined to oper^ ale at considerable expense if no profit accrLies from the operalionj With an absolute coin-freeze, Amerir can companies at present only show a paper profit. Dutch Biz Off; Hypo Due Through MPEA 50 Pix The Hague, Nov, 26. . The boom biz of 1945 and early this year is a thing of the past. Where theatres formerly were doing capacity, biz is now rated as being 30-4,')^'(j off from pealc levels. Despite this, most exhibitors say it's better than the prewar level when most film theatres played to houses that were 6Q'*65% empty. Holland looks for biz to perk when the latest U. S. pictures start being released via the Motion Pic- ture Export Assn. early in 1947. Fifty have been announced for early distribution, with nearly all of them tradeshown. About 100 features are set for release during the next year with MPEA handling for the U. S. major companies belon^ng to this organization. : >- WB COMPLETES NET OF FOREIGN 16M PIX Foreign . sales network for tlie worldwide distribution of Warner Bros, product in narrow gauge film is now practically completed, with first 16ra prints scheduled to arrive overseas by Dec. 1. According to A. e. Brauninger, chief of WB 16m operations, the main areas for ex- ploitation will be centered in South American countries and the Phil- ippines during the initial pha.ses of the new setup. First batch, of :16m film to be utilized' will include 18 features, selected by a poU of foreign branch managers, in addition to a like num- ber of shorts wliich will be com- bined into a one feature--one short package for. distribution. Janzon, Coast Swede Pic Finished, Planes Home Bengt Janzon, director for Europa Films, arrived in N.,Y., Monday (2) after having completed a Swedish feature production in Hollywood. Many scenes for the picture were shot in Minnesota, the Dakotas and other slates where there is a heavy Swedish population. Stig Olin and Edvard Pcrsson, two stars of numer- ous Swedish-made pictures, accom- panied Janzon on his location work and to the Coast. Cecil B. DoMille was persuaded to appear in the production. PayofV of Janzon directing the veteran Par producer wa.* that .DeMille described him as his favorite director on an autographed still. Jan/.on planes to Stockholm today (WecX). Because there is considerable English spolcen in this Swedish- 'anguase production, he said a deal for nialuntt complete American version for U. S. release might be Mi'orked out; Janzon formerly headed Paramount ad-publicity in Sweden. Pix Patrons Shopping For Fare Down Under; U S. Distribs Up Bally ■: :; v , Sydney, Nov. 19. Aussie film patrons are not buy- ing tickets currently unless they are sure of the attraction. This shopping around policy is going to continue for a long time, exhibitors here aver. Here Melntyre. Universal's topper, claims his unit will sell product in all spots via special cam- paigns, with this condition in mind. At present here, best boxoffice biz is being obtained by "Overlanders" IBEF), a big hit in this territory; "Wicked Lady" (GBD); "Bells of St. Mary's" (RKO), and "Blithe Spirit"- (GBD). A strong entry jvist start- ing out is "The Stranger" (RICO). Others beginning runs are "Two Sisters from Boston" (M-G), "Cen- tennial Summer" (20th) and "Two Guys from Milwaukee'' (WB)i Melbourne. Nov. 19.. The big news hei'e is tlie business being racked up by "Gone With the Wind" (M-G), playing reissue again. Others malsing money are "Wav to Stars" (GBD), "Smoky" f20tli). "Wicked Lady" (GBD), "Two Sisters from Boston"' ,(M-G) "Martha Ivcrs" (Par) and "Overlanders" (BEF). PAR INT. TOPPERS TO MEET IN STUDIO SESH Hollywood, Dec. 3. Paramount International execs will hold a series of studio confer- ences here starting Jan. 27 with Adolph Zukor, chairman of the Par- amount board. Among those slated for the meet- ing are George Weltner, prez of Par International: James E. Perkins, managing director for Great Britain, and John B. Nathan, general mana- ger for Continental Europe, Noi"th Africa and the Middle East. Czecho Buying 6 Times As Many U.S. Pix as in '38 Washington. Dec. 3., Czechoslovakia is now buying six time-s as many American films as in 1938, Jan Ma.saryk mentioned yester- day (21 during the course o£ a press conference, . ; The Czech foreign minister and son of the founder of the present republic used this fact to prove that, despite his country's sli'ong I orientation toward Ru.s.sia. it wa.s maintaining close relationship . with ihe, west., , ■ ,:;,:■ . Italo 'Barber' Pic I'. S. distribution rights to the Italian production of "Barber of Seville" were pinchased by Excelsior Pictures and film will be released with dubbed in commentary by Deems Taylor, some time in January. ■ Film- is a lensing of the Rossini opera just as it's ijre.sented onstage, with sihgers from La Scala in Milan and Rome's Teatro . Reale. Pro- ducer was S. A. Tespi, in Rome. Running time Of the picture is 105 minutes. ': WB'S 3 NEW 1X)IIEIGN MGKS. Conipleting reorganization of : its foreign sales network, Warner Bros, has appointee! three new managers in ils overseas branch offices. W. Wecleswellei', former, salesman in Australia, has' been promoted to branch manager in Bangkok, Siam. succeeding J. R. Lambw% resigned. Douglas J. Granville becomes g.m. of the Chile ofllce, succeeding I. Rosenteld, while Pedro A. Pietri has bet-n named manager of the Santo Domingo branch, replacing .1, Scralles. ■ Charles B. ^oclirau ramiiiife*! about JUinclan ih'ow Ut la ::: "Back to the Strand" on •ditorial fMturt of 41st Anniversary Number Suit to Settle Oeuvre Owners Paris, Nov. 26, "Une Autre Vie" ("Another Life") by Michel Diu'an, started rehearsals at the Oeuvre theatre, directed by Raymond Rouleau, with cast in- cluding Jean Wall, Raoul Marco and Jacqueline Gauthier. A peculiar situ- ation exists at the Oeuvre, currently co-owned by Lucien Beer and Ray- mond Rouleau. Beer brought an action against Rouleau to compel him to sell him his share of the hou.se, claiming that it was acquired from the Paulette Pax heirs during German occupation by taking ad- vantage of the anti-Semitic discrim- ination then prevailing. Until the suit has been deiSnitely settled, both unwilling partners run the house alternately. Compulsory sale to the Germans for racial reasons is also claimed by Leon Siritzky. currently trying to recover his flimhouse chain fi-om public domain, which it's been since liberation. The administration, to strengthen its case against Siritzky, charged him with Nazi collaboration, meaning that the houses would re- main under government control. It's rumored that should Siritzky jet- tison some of the property where it would do most good, the case would then be quickly settled in his favor. U.S. Distribs May Win Out On French Coin Returns While no official decision has been made by the French government, in- dications tliis week were ; that American film distributors might be successful in their long battle to have rental revenue collected in France remitted on their basis. U.S. distribs have refused- to accept the French plan to take some four dif- ferent categories of revenue at the currently'pi-evailing exchange rate. Contention of American film com- pany officials has been that the coin should be remiited to N. Y. at the official exchange rate existing at the time the money was accumulated in Prance. , Categories consist of pre- war collections, coin taken in under the Vichy regime, funds collected immediately after the war ended, and the money being accumulated at the present time. Current London Shows London, Dec. 3.' "Aiid No Birds Sinff," Aldwych. "Away From It All," Embassy. "C'lutleibuok," Wyndham. "Clime & I'Hiiishment," Globe. "Cyrano de Bergerac," New. "Fifty-Fifly," Strand. "Follow the Guis," Majesty's. "Fools Kiish In," Fortune. "Grace of .God," St. James. "Grand National Night," Apollo. "Guinea Pig." Criterion. "Here Come the Boys," Saville. "Higli Time," Palladium, "Honeymoon," York's. "Lady Frederick," Savoy. "Message for Margaret/' Duchess, "Night and Laugiiter," Coliseum. "No Boom at Inn," Winter Gardcji. "Our Betters," Playhouse. "Perclianfc In Oream," Hipp. "Piccadilly Ilayr de," Waics. "Pick-fji Girl," Casino. "Poltergeist," Vaudeville. "Shcphard Show," Princes. "Shoii Sly Corner,'' St. Martins "Skin of Teelh," Piccadilly. "Song of Norway," Palace. "Sweetheart Mine/' Vic Palace. "Sweetest and Lowest," Afflbass, "Treble Trouble," Garrick. "Under the Counter," Phoenix. "Windermere's Fan," Ilaymarket, "Winslow Bo.y," Lyric. "Worm'* AMew," Wliiiehall, Tait Sees Double Taxation Cutting Into Future Upbeat Aussie Legits But Govt. Forecasts Aid to Actors London Legits in Early Pre-Holiday Slump London, Nov. 29. West-End legit shows have been having a much earlier pre-Christmas slump this year than previously. Only legit show unaffected is Jack Hylton's "No Room at the Inn," which has been averaging $13,000 per week, yielding nice slice of prof- it to English: ex-band leader. > Show was bought for films by Victor Skutezsky for around $8,000, with offers pouring in from Holly- wood for more than twice that amount. Latest offer comes from Warner Bros., who want it as ve- hicle for Bette Davis, and are re- ported prepared to pay $50,000. Theatre Used to Sell Democracy to Youth In ' Germany; 'Edison' Scores Berlin, Nov. 19. Regional Military Government au- thorities in Wuerrttemberg-Baden, one ot three provinces of U. S. Oc- cupation Zone, are using the theatre as a means of bringing democracy to presumably truth-stirved German teen-agers. Stuttgart, State capital, had a special Youth Theatre licensed in July, devoted another to weckiy shows for kids of bobby-sox age and, after much planning and time lag due to shortage of materiaLs, launched a series of 2^ operas, con- certs and plays at the Schloss Schweitzingen, near ancient Heidel- berg. Theatre and music officials of In- formation Control Division which licenses theatres, said they hope to bring more German youths and American doughboys together at the Schweitzingen series which got un- der way last month. Series includes eight operas, same number of plays including Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" and "Skin of Our Teeth," and half a dozen concerts. Novel feature was the introduction of open forum discussion which follows each per- formance. Juvenile audiences are solicited for their opinions. In view of the large youth attend- ance in the 738 motion picture tlie- atres throughout the American Zone, efforts are being pushed to select Hollywood films, both features and documentaries, of reorientational value—an anachronisyn for pix which will help these kids to see tliat there are things other than war worth living for. All U.S. features have been labeled "Jugendfrei" (open to juveniles). Extensive program of producing 16 - millimetre educationals for schools and carefully supervised kid organizations was recently an- nounced. Total of 120 reels of this sort are planned. United States Forces in European Theatre, USFET. recently invited teen-agers to attend "Young Tom Edison" as guests ot the G.I.'s. Ger- mans were deUghted. showed their delight with spontaneous laughter and applause, USFET officials are toying with the. idea. Of ;using fea- ture fil m s i n el assroom s, to 0vercoin e instructional problem ijivolved in 1-ck of sufficient textbooks.. Radio stations throw heavy em- phasis on youth. A juvenile debate, first Of its kind, recently touched off much interest and newspaper com- nient.. It was given at the ,U. S. Sta- tion in Berlin, and will be repeated soon.. ■,■■.■.,,,,.,: Sydney, Nov. 19. E, J. Tail, head of Williainsbn- Tait, who leaves soon for U. S., .oh talent looksee, told politicians in Canberra this week that the double taxation burden was crippling stage up-beat here planned for next year. Double taxation means that artists booked for Aussie shows , have: to ■ pay on earnings ' here and in the' U. S. , It would be difficult, Tait pointed out, to sign artists for a Down Under season after telling them this. Tait wants the govern- ment to' help encourage the legiti- mate sta,ge and concert field by lessening the taxation burden: Tait has put his case before Labor Prime Minister Ben Ghifle.v, Vakiexy understands that Tail stated if his organization coiild not bring*arti.it!. to Australia because of double ■ taxation burden,. the only alternative would be to leEse his theatres for picture show operation. Tait told the Government that Jiis organization had resisted the efforts of film interests for the last 15 years. WilliarasonrTait has employed over 1,000 people, and with any switch from legit to films, these would be thrown out of work. At present W-T have "Follow the Girls" here, plus concert players and road shows. John Charles Thomas is booked for Aussie tour early next year. It-also has in.mind opera and ballet visits. No Double Tax, Says Chifley Canberra, Nov. 20. Aussie Minister Ben Chifley said full relief from double taxation was provided for United Kingdom musi- cians and theatrical artists visiting here. ■ ■ Recent reports had indicated that the exclusion of those artists from Article 9 Of the Double-taxation Agreement had been taken to mean that tliey liad been excluded from the agreement. This was not so. Under Article 12. a United King- dom artist would pay Australian tax on his earnings in Australia, but the United Kingdom officials would grant relief on such tax paid up to the level of its own taxation on: those earnings. Australian artists visiting United Kingdom would be taxed by Britain on earnings there, but would be free from Australian tax on those earnings. Prime Minis- . ter Chifley declared. It's ncl known whether American artists would have to pay taxes in U. S. on their earnings while in Australia. This point was not clari- fied. Naturally, they would ijay tax to Australia on coin earned via contracts here. DISNEY SHORTS FOR AUSTRIAN MOPPETS Mopiiets in the American zone in Au.stria will get a special slice of U. S. film entertainment for their Christmas desserts through the com- bined efforts of Gen. Mark Clark, Walt Disney and the Motion Picture Export Assn. Gen. Clark has just arranged for. the MPJCA to send 17 different Dis- ney cartoons, along with prints of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" to Austria, with which he plans to flood all Austrian theatres shortly before Christmas. Distribution of the pix is strictly a goodwill gesture on: the part of Disney, who will not receive any revenue for them. Jerusalem Sees Preview of 'Hope' Documentary .Icrusalcm, Nov. 21. A preview of a 16m color pic titled "Land of Hope" was shown at the Eden Cinema in Jerusalem last week to the press. Commentary, which was written by J. G. MacDon- ald, former High Commissioner for Refugees, was read by Jose Fer- rer., The script was written by William Zimmerman, formerly with Metro'in Hollywood. The 'feature was produced by Jewish Natiotial Fund. Local Pal- estine scenes were filmed by L. Duenncr, while other scenes were filmed in the U. S. Nathan to Sweden Prior To Zukor's Paris Visit Paris, Nov. 26. . J. B. Nathan. Paramount's new European chief, haa gone to Stocks holm, preliminary to. the arrival of . Adolph Zukor. chairnnan of corn- pany's directorate, who's due ih Paris any day now. Ray Milland also is. going on to the Swedish capi- tal before returning to Hollywood. Par star was here to receive Cannes Film Fe.stival awards.' Incidentally, Millahd has bought no house on the Riviera, as . had been originally planned, but plans returning there next year for a two-month vacation. F. L. Harley, 20th-Fox new Euro- pean managing director, has gone to Belgium on company business. Bob Krier, of 20th-Fox ofAce her*, has gone to the U. S. and is due to stay there for several weeks.