Variety (Dec 1946)

22 PICTUUES Wcdncwlay, Deeember 4^ 1944) Arthur Loew the Latest m Mate On U.S. Fix'Responsibility'to World Healed discussioriK on wliotber ♦ " '^"T" ~ ~ ' ~^ Hallywocvd is in a rul in regard, to Riga MaXWClI ill Dallas fresh ideas continued to hold the j-lage Inst weeic, with spokesmen both inside and outside the indvistry leeiiig ti/t: on the subject. Metro international prexy Arthur M. Loew is the latest. He refutes statements of his own staff "with the obScrva-- lion that the ftlm industry has a rCKponPibility beyond the commercial objective of entertaining people. Speaking at a banquet in Paris last week at which he was promoted to the rank of "ofTicer" of the French Legion of Honor. Loew de- clared that the .film: industry "mtist assist in the political education of Frariee and the U, S.. as of the rest of the Woiid. to let them know what democracy is ;and , why withovit it the ronimon .man 'jiR .doomed,]V.^/',/^ Loew's statement, it was pointed t(ut. was almost a eompletp . turn- about ori an earlier observation of David Blum, ad-publicity vcepee of Metro International ajid one of Loew's immediate underlings. Con- flict between the . two indicates, it's believed, that even toppers of the same company don't see eye-to-eye on the subject. : ■ Blum, upon his return' from Europe last October, refuted the statement of March of Time pro- ' ducer Richard de Rochemont . that American pix were giving Europeans a -'distorted view" of the American way of life. Function of pix; Blum said, is only to entertain, not to teed propaganda to. the European massesj and the majority of Euro- peans have developed their good opinions of the U. S. through Ameri- can films more than any other medium except charity. Prof. Edgar Dale of the Ohio State Univ. English department also took a swing at Hollywood by claiming the film producer's thief aim is to "make money." Film industry and education are "as far apart as ever" and their goals are entirely unre- As Advance for 'Duel' Dallas, Dec, 3, Elsa Maxwell, w.k.' pariy-giver, is here to arrange for a. soiree to her-; aid the approach of David p. .Selz-, nick's "Duel in the Sun". premieres of the filni are sched;-. ulcd for Dallas and other "Texas cit- ies, beginning Jan. 6i with, a con- tingent of stars from the film's ca.'^t. 'includin.g Jennifer Jones. Jo.-^ep)i Cotten, Gregory Peck and Walter Hu.ston coming from Hollywood.' Lillie Hayward's Dualer Hollywood, Dec. .3. RKO handed Lillie Hay ward /a double ta.sk as producer and writer of "Angel Face," starring Sharyn Moffett and slated for a January start, . Picture, based on a story by Jean C. Beckett, will be made under general, supervision of Sid Iflogell. U's A! Daff Points To Smash B.O. as Proof U.S. Pix Still Tops Abroad Solid grosses abroad, far ahead of pre-war days, is the refutation to the overseas and domestic barrage leveled at Hollywood product be- cause of its purported lack of fresh- ness and originality, according to Al Daff, Universal-International vee- pee. Returning from a siX'Wcek continental arid North African tour. Daff asserted that the very pictures singled out by the critics as. stereo- typed were those most patronized by the public over.seas. "American pictures have a strong": er hold than ever on the run-of-the- mill custom_er who pays his cash on the line at'the boxoffice," Daff de- clared. "They're the ones who like and want the sort of films that We've been producing. So long: as they continue flocking to the theatres, I don't see that we have to worry about the seers who see everything wrong in Hollywood pictures. Those very pictures are the ones paying off;" • .■■ What's more, Daff maintained, up 1 i J 1. -J Ti „ _ , surge of native production m many lated, he said, Professor urged the .^^ i • i » :,',.„,., ..„„(■,?, foreign countries does not po.se a industry to ' do some creative, cnti- ,. » . , _. „. . , ustry caK constructive thinking in the field" and declared it should realize that "the motion picture industry floes not occupy; a high place in public esteem." \ Byron Price, speaking in Los Angeles before the convention of thi-eat to Amferican pix. Top Yank product^ he said. w^Ss still the most popular with forfeign audiences and so long as. Hollywood can hew to its potent production values, there would be no danger of a swing in sentiment. Native pictures are el- A-ssodaWTress editors'.'jumpe'd to ■ bowing American actions and wesl- the industry's defense, blaming whatever lack of good pictures existed on the dearth of good story material. Film business, he said,, is "growing up" and he appealed to editors riot to be gullible about Hollywood and the "old legends and cliches." AG Insurgents Claim lete Court Win New York. Editor, ""/ariety: Correction please! VahietY's story on the decision of Judge Shientag )pst week in the case of Davids vs. Sillcox (the Authors Guild of the Authors League of America Inc.) was a bit in error. Perhaps your re- porter read too ha.stily the very wise and brilliant^although : lengthy— decision. The court most certainly did not refuse niy request for. minutes of council meetings. We are getting ex- actly what we asked for, namely; dates of council meeting.s; rianies of those present; subjects taken up; formal resolutions: and -action; vo.tinfi records (pro and con) of council members present. Furthermore, there is nothing in the decision which reads "fact that committee had previously lost out at Guild's annual meet in its move to upset current management was no ■ argument against its contiriuing the' battle." The Committee ftsr Action has not, up to the pre.sent, tried, to upset: Current .mana.gement. While it is possible that such a move might be thought desirable, the fact re- mains that it is not now a part of our program. We are interested .specifically in broadening the base of the Guild through an intensified membership drive and in securing at least mini- mum economic protection for Guild members. We say that an organization which Is 34 year old ought to have more on the credit side of the ledger than the pre.sent Guild has and we mean to see that sharp gains are made. Nancy Davids, fVice-Chairman Com- erns, Daff said, but had not taken over the playing-time of high btidget American films. . . Business throughout Europe and particularly in France and Italy is way out ahead of that a year ago, Daff . continued. Only two spots where it has dropped off recently are in Egypt and Palestine where fac- tors, other than the quality of the films, determined the dip. Exodus of troops from Egypt had caused a 25% decline in revenues. Palestine is suffering, he added, from period- ical curfews which the current un- rest has brought about. SOPEG Rounding Out Increases at Other N.Y.Cos.forCollarites With the bulk of white eollarite.s in the New York film: offices al- ready operating under new union contracts, the Screen Office & Pro- fessional Employees Guild has just finished wrapping up negotiations covering random sectors on film row. Artkino signed a union pact with SOPEG calling for increases to of- fice workers ranging from $7.,'50 to $15 retroactive to Oct. 1, with a re- duction of the work week from 40 to 37 "i hours. Readers at Universal have been granted a 15% increase retroactive to Oct. 21 while office workers at Paramount labs won increases of $6 or 15%, whichever is greater. Workers at De Luxe Labs won. simi- lar increases while eollarite.s at National Screen gained increases ranging from $4.50 to 15% of upper bracket salaries. ' 16M GROUP SETS UP 4-POINT PROGRAM Washington, Dec. 3. Four-point program for 1847 has been set up here by the Film Council of America, non-theatrical ICm group which • includes Government production. Activities just announced by Council proxy .C. R. Reagan are: angled toward international coopera- tion.. The four points: 1. "Continue to support strongly the u.se of film for international understanding both through the pro- cedures developed by UNESCO and the United Nations. 2. "Develop a program of publica,. tions and reports through the Coun- cil and with cooperating agencies. In this connection a 168-page report, "Use of Audio-Vi.sual Material Toward International Understand- ing," has been distributed. 3. "Recommend a thorough study by the Library of Congress Motion Picture Project of ways and means to effect better and more expeditious distribution of government-made films, and to recommend standard- ized charges. 4. "Effect a close liaison relation- ship with local and state groups interested in. the visual education and adult education fields." Library of Congress is said to be building a motion picture unit of 64 persons. Kelly Vetoes Proposal To Hike Chi Amus. Tax Chicago. Dec. 3. Proposal to tax amusement admis- sions to the tune of $450,000 annually fell flat in the city council last week when Mayor Kelly, who ■ at first favored the plan, vetoed the pro- posal. : ' His turnabout, Kelly said; was due to his belief that business totals would not increase in 1047, and the new tax would not bring in enough money to warrant the increase. Richmond Tax Try Washington, Dec. 3, Members of Richmond, Va.. City Council are seeking to have the city adopt a 10% local amusement tax. They figure this would bring in a total of ,$750,000 a year.' Tax would hit film houses hardest and raise the most revenue from the filmeries. Delay EqiiitfOpe^^ Hollywood, Dec. 3, Opening of Equity Studios, new rental lot on Cahuenga, blvd., is (iiated for Jan. 10,. instead of Dec. 1. Delay, according to Jack Sehwarz, vcepee, is due to elabbraiioii of the original plans. . ' Exterior work on the studio's nine sound stages has been completed and interior wdrk i.s well under way. In addition to the "nine stages, the lot will contain a two-story admin- istration building, three projection mittee for Action in the [rooms and other facilities refiiisile Authors Guild) | in a modern studio. They-Weht-Thataway Kids Put Pitch on for Oaters Disniounting from his hoss long enough to be interviewed in New York last week, Hopalong Cassidy^ Bill Boyd, that would be—opined that cruel exhibs are maltreating panting tJ, S. theatregoers by not giving the.-.', enough westerns. Pard- ner Lewis J. Rachmil, who pro- duces the "Hoppy" series for United Artists release, gave two-gun sup- port to the plaint of his star. Stirrup oprys are .getting only about 9,000 bookings, RaChmil beefed, against 12,000 that they could have "if exhibitors would wake up and give the public a break." Boyd opined that "not only kids, but their parents, would prefer westerns to a lot of the-other .stuff they're being fed today—and I don't mean those westerns with singing Romeos in 1942 .station wagon.s." Rachmill said that despite rising costs, "Hoppies" were still budgeted at $1.23,000, aS: they were in 1943. Difference is made up, he explained, by tightening up on needless ex- penditures. The pix were held to a 90-hour shooting schedule, he said. Fir.st "Hoppy"-to get a percentage date is "Devil's Playground" at the Capitol, Philly, starting today (Wed- nesday). ■ NEW PEC OAT SERIES Hollywood, Dec. 3, .Terry Thomas, producer of the Eddie Dean western.'; at PRC, has added a new «cri«» of eight oaters to hi!i program, v/ith Al La Kii*; and Fuzzy .St. John <;or.liirri-t). Both n'rif-H v/il] be <lirerl<;d by Ray Taylor. Picture Grosses : Continued from page 10 MINNEAPOLIS week, '"Landru.sh" (Col) and "Mys- terious Mr. Valentine" (Rep), satis- factory $]f,700 in 5 days. Century iPar) (1,600; 50-70)— "Rage in Heaven" (M-G) (reissue): Fine $8,000, Last week, "Margie" (20th) (3d wk), good $7,000. Gopher (Par) (1,000; ^4)—"Wild Beauty" (U). Light $3,000. Last week, "Wells Fargo" (Par) (reissue), neat $4,200.: Lyric (Par) (1,100; 50-70)—- '■Straiige Woman" (UA> (m.o.). Stretching toward good $6,000. Last week, "Deception" (WB> (4th wk), good $.5,000. Orphettm (RKO) (2,800; .50-70)— "Nocturne" (RKO), Trim at $11,000. Last week. "Never Sav Goodbye" tWB), $9,000. Radio City (Par) (4.000; ,50-70)— "Two Years Before Mast" (Par). It's towns' best bet with huge $29,000, record for straight film. Last week. "Two Smart People'' (M-G), $10,000,. RKO-Pan (RKO) (1.600; .50-70)— "The Verdict" (WB). Fair $9,000 in- dicated. Last week, "Housekeeper's Daughter" (UA) and "One Million B.^ C." (UA) (rei-ssues), $8,000. State (Par) (2,300; 50-70)—"Under- current" (M-G). Reaching for fancy $14,000."' Last week, "Strange Wom- an" (UA). $13,000. Uptown : (.Par) (1,000; 50-55)-J? "Holiday in Mexico" (M-G). First nabe .showing. Healthy $4,000. La.st week. "Cloak and Dagger" (WB), $4,200. World (Par-StefTes) (350; 50-90)— "Margie" (20th) (m.o.). Fourth loop week for this with excellent $3,200 likely. Last week, "They Were Sisters" (U). $2,000. lasf Smash $16,000 In K.C.; 'Margie' 20G, Hepburn-Taylor 18G Kansas City, Dec. 3. Line-up of strong attractions moved in for the Thanksgiving week kill and town is fairly well bursting with better product than seen here in weeks! Gro.sses up around top figures at every house, with hold- overs slated for about four spots. "Margie," "Undercurrenf '.and "Two Years Before Mast" look to be the biggest .sock hits. Tower is back to vaude with Sally Rand unit on stage and "California Way" and"Person- ality. Kid" on screen. Estima'ies for This Week Esquire - Uptown - Fairway (Fox Midwest) (820. 2,043, 700; 45-65)— "Margie" (20th). Looks for solid $20;000 and holdover. .. Last.' week, "White Tie and Tails" (U), slow $11,000 in 6 days. Midland (Loew's) (3,500; 45-65)— "Undercurrent" (M-G) s and "Betty Co-ed" (Col). Strong $18,000 on Hepburn-Taylor draw of former. Holds. Last week, "Rage in Heaven" (M-G) (reissue), and "Shadowed" (Col), $15,000. Newman (Paramount) (1,900; 45- 65)—"Two Years Before Mast" (Par). .Smash $16,000 Or near, and likely holdover. Last week, "De- ception" (WB) (2d wk), mild $9,000. Orpheum (RKO) (1,900; 45-65)— "Cloak and Dagger" (WB) and "Child of Divorce" (RKO). Good $13,000. but won't hold. Last week, "Captain Fury'' (RKO) and "Captain Caution" (RKO) (reissues), slow $9,000. Tower (Fox-Joffee) (2,100; 45-65) — 'Out California Way" (Rep) and "Personality Kid" (Col) with Sally Rand unit on stage returning house to regular vaude: policy. Prices upped from the former 39r60c scale. Sock $15,000 likely and one of the best weeks here. Last week, "Earl Carroll Sketchbook" (Rep) and "Lit- tle Miss Big" (U) at 39-600, average $6,000. 'UNDERCURREM' 28G, 'SKIES' 27G, ST. LOO St. LoULs, Dec. 3. Helped by sock Thanksgiving biz grosses are way up this week at mo,st spots. Standouts are "Under, current" and"Blue Skies," both be- ing, smash. Estimates for This Week Ambassador (F&M) (3,000; 50^75) —"Blue Skies" (Par). Smash $27,000 or better. Last, week, "Two Years Before Mast" (Par) (3d wk), big $10,000, Fox (F&M) (5,000; 50-75) —"The Verdict" (WB) and "Her Sister's Secret" (PRC). Thin $15,000. Last week. "Trail Lonesome Pine" (Par) and "Sim Valley Serenade" (20th) (rcLssucs), okay $18,000. .„^««W» (Loew) (3,172; 50-75) — Undercurrent" (M-G). Wham $28,- m. Last week. "Angel on Shoulder" (JJA) and "Blondie Knows Best" (Col), $18,000, MifiFourl 'K&M) (3,500; .50-75) — Darling Clementine" (20th) and Phantom Thief" (Col). Mild $14,- 600. Last week, "Margie" (20th) ond $S.^''"*^" wk). _ Orpheum (Loew) (2,000; 50-76i-_ 'Angel on Shoulder" (UA) and ' Blondie Knows Best" (Col) (m o ) Nice $7,000. Last week, "No Leave'' (M-G) and "Shadowed" (Col) (mo') $4,500. . St. Louis (F&M) (4.000; 50-60) — ..'S",^,*^ ^""^ Dagger" (WB) and Walls Come Tumbling Down" (Col) (2d wk). Oke $10,000 after $18 000 first stanza. %m 16G, INDPLS .; HEPBURN-TAYLOR 17G • Indianapolis, Dec; 3. Brisk Thanksgiving Day trade hiked grosses back to normal at local deluxers this stanza. "Undercur- rent," at Loew's, and "Three Little Girls in Blue," at Indiana, will get plump figures. "Stranger" at Circle is oke Estimates for This Week Si^;.*'*„*^^*==-'^''"e) (2,800; 40-60) .-"The Stranger" (RKO) and "Ge- nius at Work" (RKO). Average $11,500. Last week, "Nobody Lives Forever" (WB) and "Shadow of Woman'! (WB), mild $11,000. Indiana (Katz-Dolle) (3,300; 40-60) — 'Three Little Girls" (20th) Heftv $16,000, Last week, "Killers" (il) $11,500. , • "-r?"-,',*''*. „^I"<''e> (1,300: 40-60)- Thrill of Brazil" (Col). Modest ,$9- 000. Last week, "Dark Minor" (UV (3d wk), $4,400. Loew's (Loew's) (2,4')0; 40-60)— "Undercurrent" (M-G). Sock $17,000 for Hepburn-Taylor film; holds. Last week, "Angel on Shoulder" (UA) and Smg While Dance" (Col). $10,000 Lyric (Katz-Dolle) (1,600; 40-60)^ "Plainsman" (Par) and "Jungle Prin- cess" (Par) (reissues). Fine $10,000. Last week, "End of Time'' (RKO). thin $5,500. 'Skies' Smash $27,000, Seattle; 'Killers' 17G ■ Seattle, Dec. 3. Way ahead of nearest competitors are "Blue Skies" and "Killers" this .session. Otherwise the city is feeling the pre-holiday lull. Estimates for Last W«>«k Blue Mouse (H-E) (800; 45-80)— "Margie" (20th) (3d wk). Solid $8,000. Last week, "Clementine" (20th) (2d ^.■k), $5,400 in 8 days. Fifth Avenue (H^E) (2,349; 45-80) —"Notorious" (RKO). Tremendous $22,000. Last week, "Sister Kenny" (RKO), mild $7,000. Liberty (J&VH) (1,650: 45-801— "Return Monte Cri.sto" (Col) and "So Dark the Night" (Col). Good $9,000. Last week, "Bachelor's Daughter" (UA) and "Devil's Play- ground" (UA) (2d wk), big $8,400, Music Box (H-E) (8.50: 4.5-80)— "2 Years Before Mast" (Par) (5th wk). Okay $4,800 in 6 days. Last week, swell $6,100, Music Hall (H-E) (2,200; 45-80)— "Courage of Las.si2" (M-G) and "Crack-Up" (RKO). Good $11,500. Last week, '^Lady Luck" (RKO) and "Great Day" (RKO), good $7,800. Orpheum (H-E) (2,600; 45-80) — 'The Killers" (U) and "Little Mi.ss Big" (U). Big $17,000. Last week. Cloak and Dagger" (WB) (2d wk), swell $10,700. Palomar (Sterling) (1„350; 45-80) —"Death Valley" (FC) and "Dan- gerous Money" (Mono) plus stage. Okay $7,500. Last week, even the holiday and Sully Mason band on stage didn't help "Under Nevada Skies" (Rep) and "Slightly Scandal- ous" (Rep), mild $7,000. Paramount (H-E) (3.032; 45-80)— Blue Skies" (Par). Smash $27,000. Last week, "Margie" (20th) and Cockeyed Miracle" (M-G) (2d wk), tremendous $12,700 in 6 days. Roosevelt (Sterling) (800:45-80)— 'Cloak and Dagger" (WB) (m.o.). Okay $6,000. Last Week,"Specter of Rose" (Rep), fair $4,000. Winter Garden (Sterling) (800; 25-50) — "Anna" (20th) and "Black Beauty" (20th) split with "Ea.sy to Wed" (M-G) and. "Talk About Lady" (Col) (3d run). Fair $3,800. Last week, "Night arid D;vv" (WBI split with "Cleopatra" (UA) and "Bamboo Blonde" (RKO). $3,200. Calloway in Negro Pic Chicago, Dec. 3. With the signing of bandleader Cab Calloway, the All-Ameriean f'ewsreel has made plans for imme- diate production of an all-Negro musical to be filwed here in Chi. TBABY' rOR KATZMAN'S Hollywood, Dec. 3, First production on Sam Katz- man's 1947 program at Columbia will be "Broadway Baby." Picture will follow Katzman's current cliffhanger, ".Tack Arm?. strong," early in February.