Variety (May 1947)

Wednesday, May 7, 1947 FBE-PRODITCTION 9 Wirking Oil Final Details in Par s iea's Pad Deal by which Liberty Pictures' +■ Sam Briskin, Frank Capra and Wil- ' liara Wyler go over to Paramount jn purchase' by that company- of. Liberty's contracts and assets is ex- pected to be ratified this week. Move ha» given rise to some specu- lation in the trade as to the role Briskin will have at Par, inasmuch as his duties insthe pwt have always been on the business and studio operational side ot production. Two alternatives are said to exist. One is that he will become an exec- utive aide to Par production topper Henry Ginsberg, relieving him ot many duties of studio operation. Other is that Briskin will continue to be associated with Capra and Wyler, acting as exec producer on the pix they make. Par has given no inkling yet as to which of these chores Briskin will assume, al- though aide to Ginsberg is more likely. Another decision will have to be made regarding Edward K. (Ted) O'Shea, Liberty distribution chief. He has a five-year contract with Liberty, of which less than one year has expired. Unless an arrangement (Continued on page 31) ladman'Monlz & Pard Motor in on Indie Pic ?r@i at Audio Studios Hollywood, May 6. Earl "Madman" Muntz is going into film production, in partnership with Mike Shore. Automotive sales- man and Shore on Saturday (3) con- cluded purchase and lease negotia- tions for Audio Pictures Studios. Setup is incorporated as Muntz-Shore Productions and will produce fea- tures, shorts and 16mm commercials, besides renting space to indies. Studio is being renovated, pro- duction expected to start May 30. Duo has signed a releasing deal with Screen Guild for four low- budget pix, including John Bright's "Glass House," Sam Locke's "Crisis Of Dirk Diamond," Frank Albertson and Brenda Joyce play leads in "Dia- mond." Audio's accumulated story properties were taken over by Muntz-Shore also. Audio's toppers, Ferenz Fodor, prez, and Lou Brandt, production manager, stay on In an operational capacity. Move on Muntz's part is outgrowth of his tie with Kaiser-Frazer to pro- duce schedule -Of K-F sales and train- ing films. Audio Studio was originally built in 1918 by Norma Talmadge and housed early productions of her silent drama syndicate. Presidential Citations To Richards, Wilby, Fabian Paramount partners Ernest V. Richards and Robert B. Wilby, and Si Fabian, prez of American The- atres Assn. and head of the Fabian circuit, have been decorated with Presidential certificates of Merit for their handling of the War Activities Committee. Presentations were made last week to the trio by Under- Secretary of the Navy John L. Sul- livan. Laurels went to Richards for his part in conceiving and aiding the WAC; to Wilby lor his services as chairman of the WAC's program committee; and to Fabian, as chair- man of the theatres division of the org. $300,000 Commission One of the fanciest agent's commissions in history, perhaps the tops on any single deal, is the $300,000 which Music Corp. of America will realize from the Liberty Pictures' sale to Para- mount. Payment was in stock, totaling some $3,000,000. Jules C. Stein and Lew Was- serman, board chairman and prexy of MCA, handled the Lib- erty package whereby Frank Capra, William Wyler and Sam Briskin get Par employment contracts. George Stevens alone decided to remain independent. ilirisiMings Eipaisiii Set Long-term deal is being negotiated by Harold Mirisch, former RKO film •buyer, with the King Bros., by which he'll become partner with' them in their indie production unit. They have been releasing through Mono- gram, but with Mirisch's joining the unit, it will begin distribution via Mono's higher-budget subsid, Allied Artists. "". ■ Mirisch tieup is understood to be for 18 pictures. He'll handle the business end, particularly distribu- tion. He's also going to make his home in Hollywood and has put up for sale his large Miami estate. King's 4 Top Budgeters Hollywood, May 6. King Bros, closed a deal to pro- duce four pictures, each budgeted at $1,000,000, for Allied Artists release. Pictures are "Gun Crazy," au- thored by MacKinlay Kantor, who (Continued on page 31) Wasserman, Stein West Chased back to the Coast by a combination of cold and the inor- dinately inclement weather in New York, Lew Wasserman is leaving today (Wed.) for Hollywood. The MCA prexy is due back east in a couple of weeks as is MCA board chairman Jules C. Stein, who has been in New York several weeks, chiefly in connection with winding up the Paramount-Liberty Pictures merger. Stein flew to the Coast Monday (5) and his wife, Doris, follows in a week after a Washington stop- over with friends. HIRUMAN LOOKS SET TO PAY OFF FOR MISSUS With all major assets but 35 Hopa- long Cassidy westerns disposed of by International Theatre & Televi- sion Corp. and Film-Tel, Inc., it now appears likely that University, RKO and Samuel Gbldwyn will be fully paid the approximately $200,000 owed them and other creditors by the two outfits. Companies, of which George Hirlimah is prez, have been in reorganization under the bankruptcy laws since last July. Already cleaned up are liens held by the Continental Bank and part of those held by Standard Factors, Inc. Latter have to be paid off be- fore other creditors can participate, but it is figured the Hopalongs (35m) will do it and leave some money over for the stockholders besides. Westerns have been estimated to be worth $40,000 each for reissue rights for three years, which would give them a total value of $1,400,000. Among income derived from as- sets of IT&T was $52,000 paid by United World, 16m subsid of Uni- versal, to get back 16m rights on U pix. This despite the fact that U is owed $24,000 by IT&T as a cred- itor. Another $36,000 was paid by Irvin Shapiro for a series of 35m musi- cals, comedies, westerns and other old product sold under the label of Condor Films. Shapiro is said to have resold just one of these pix to Loew's for $35,000. It was "Dan- iel Boone." Official Films, a 16m outfit, bought all narrow-gauge domestic rights from IT&T for about $100,000. II PROBLEMS RECLUDE PROFIT That postwar gold that the majors were seeing in them thar 16m hills a couple of years back so far has proved nothing but low grade alloy. Most companies continue to feel there's real ore to be had in 16m distribution, but they agree that it remains at the end of a rainbow which is still quite a distance away. Finish of the war saw virtually every major hot to get into the narrow-gauge field, particularly abroad. Some 20 months later finds only two companies — RKO and Metro—operating on any appreci- able scale, and neither of them even close to breaking even. Domestic- ally, the whole field of 16m theatri- cal distribution is at a total standstill. Primary reason for the stymie both here and abroad is identical. All the myriad problems with which companies are being faced on their regular 35m distribution likewise apply to the 16m—plus dozens more. In the U. S., with the majors uncer- tain of where they're going in the 35m field because of the anti-trust suit, they've had no inclination to compound their problems by em- barking into the uncharted area of the sub-standard gauge. Abroad, the American industry is faced with the greatest complexity of restrictions in its history, as a re- sult of which there's been no great hurry to add to them via the 16m field. With currency restrictions in many countries, for instance, dis- tribs see no point in building up 16m (Continued on page 29) Breen s Nix on a Number if Iritis! Films Straining Aigln-U. S. Entente Rank-Blumberg Huddles Nate Blumberg, Universal's prexy, will talk business with J. Arthur Rank on both coasts. He huddles with the British film tycoon in New York, this week and next, then will meet Rank again in Hollywood later in the lalter's U. S. stay. U and Rank have close distribution and exhibi- tion tieups. Hicks' 16m O.O. Orton H. Hicks, director of the 16m division of Loew's International, flew to Europe, Monday (5) for a six-weeks' onceover of Metro of- fices in England, France, Belgium and Italy and a check on the prog- ress of 16m operations in those coun- tries. Trip is Hicks' first to the Continent since joining Loew's immediately after the war, with Seymour Mayer, sales manager Of 16m entertainment films, having handling the field work until now with recent trips to Europe, the Near East and Latin America. Rank's Intensive 6-Day Sked in N.Y. J. Arthur Rank's six-day stopover in New York on his return U. S. visit will have the hours over- worked. No sooner does the Queen Elizabeth touch the dock Friday (9), Britain's chief filmmaker will scram- ble to meet a speaker chore for the World's Sunday School Assn. at the Hotel Commodore and from then on it's touch-and-go. He'll be accom- panied by his wife, and by John Davis, his top assistant,- and the lat- ter's wife. Final lineup of Rank's schedule is as follows: Friday (9): Guest of honor and speaker at the . World's Sunday School Assn., Hotel Commodore. Meeting of the board of directors of Rank's U.S. company of which he is board ehairman and Robert Ben- jamin, prez. Saturday (10); Huddle with Uni- versal's officials to discuss future plans. U distributes most of Rank's top pix in the western hemisphere. Sunday (11): Guest at the country home of Spyros Skouras, 20th-Fox prexy. Monday (12): Honor guest of a private luncheon tendered him at the Metropolitan Club by Uni- versal's board of directors Of which he is a member. In the eve- ning, Rank and Davis will tuck in their napkins at the Waldorf-Astoria where Eric Johnston, head of the (Continue'd on page 29) ' +• British pix are having some rough sledding at the Joe Breen office lately on their way to U. S. theatres and it may light the fuse to renewed trans-Atlantic sniping by English in- tellectuals. With the Anglo view of what's the right thing in a pic contin- uing to vary widely with that of the Yanks—or at least to those manning the bulwarks of the production code —one British pie is now stopped dead in its tracks and a flock of others are limping to the starting line, covered with red-tape. British effort, called out on fouls by the Breen forces, is "Pink String and Scaling Wax." which no amount of surgery could make presentable under the Production Code. Orig- inally intended for Prestige distri- bution (Universal), pic has been now banned both in Canada and in the U. S. because it's theme is one of premeditated murder with- out the surcease enjoined by the code. It's a product of Ealing studio which was set for sureseater play- ings. Much more serious, so far as cash investment is concerned, is the fate of "My Heart Goes Crazy," a Wesley Ruggles opus in Technicolor, which is reported to have cost J. Arthur Rank's minions close to (Continued on page 29) Briefs From the Lots Bren Ankles RKO Hollywood, May 6. J. Robert Bren, RKO producer, arranged a settlement of his con- tract and checked off the lot to or- ganize his own independent outfit. Two stories, "Mystery in Mexico" and "Road to Carmichael's," which Bren had been preparing, will be turned over to other producers on the lot. Hollywood, May 6. Shirley Patterson, femme lead in "Black Hills," PRC musical oater, starring - Eddie Dean, Ray Taylor producing and Jerry Thomas direct- ing .. . PRC bought "Angel With an Anklet," tale of airline hostesses, and signed author Dorcas Cochran to write screenplay . . . Fred Cra- vens, who taught Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., how to handle a sword back in 1922, was signed as fencing instuc- tor by Dougtes, Jr., for "The Exile" at U . . ', Georgia Backus has chor- acter role in "Dream Girl," Betty Hutton starrer, at Paramount, Michael Curtiz picked June 2 as starting day for his Technicolor tunefilm, "Romance in High C," which he will produce independently for Warners release with Jack Car- son, Oscar Levant and S. Z. Sakall in top roles and the femme lead problem still unsolved . . . Jimmy Lagano, moppet, will play the son of Rex Harrison and Maureen O'Hara in "The Foxes of Harrow" at 20th- Fox . . . Ian Keith, legit actor, was signed for a character role in the Tyrone Power starrer, "Nightmare Alley," at 20th-Fox . . . Edward L. Alperson selected July 1 for the green light on»"The Tender Years," Joe E. Brown starrer, to be filmed independently for 20th-Fox release. Elmo Lincoln ,and Frank Mayo, stars of silent films, signed for roles in "Whispering Smith" at Para- mount .. Pete Smith completed "Pet Peeves," 10th and last of 1946-47 program of specialties for Metro . . . Mary Patterson and Carol and Judy Nugent, moppets, signed to portray Ginger Rogers at the ages of two, four and eight in "It Had to Be You," to be produced by Don Hart- man . . . Margaret Lindsay, absent from Metro for 10 years, returns to the lot for a key role in the Spencer Tracy-Lana Turner co-starrer, "Cass Timberlane" . . . Jack Holt draws the heavy lead in "The Wild Frontier," starring Allan Lane at Republic. Stan Freberg was signed as the permanent voice of Charlie Horse, the main cartoon character in Bob Clampett's Trucolor cartoon series at Republic, following his -equine vocalizing in "It's a Grand Old Nag," first of the series,. Constance Moore settled her contract with Republic after appearing in six pictures,.. Comet Productions bought "Hold It, Please," by Francis Swann, as star- rer for Jackie Cooper.. .Hobart Cavanaugh drew a featured role in "Driftwood," to be produced and di- rected by Allah Dwan at Republic . ..Rubey Cowan's first indie pic- ture. "She Made Them Men." Una Merkel signed by Eagle-Lion for comedy role in "A Texas Le- gend," to be produced by Joseph Fields and directed by Leigh Jason .. .Fourth and last cliffhanger on Mike Frankovich's production pro- gram at Republic this year is "G-Men Never Forget," with Fred Brannon and Spencer Bennett as co-directors.. .John H. Auer wound up his producer-director chore on "The Flame" at Republic with John Carroll and Vera Ralston in final sequence.. .WalterTetley, who plays Leroy on the "Great Gildersleeve" radio program, will appear in "The High Wall" at Metro. Lincoln Widder checked in at Co- lumbia as executive aide to Armand Schaefer, prexy of Gene Autry Pro- ductions . . . Belita completed skating routines for "The Hunted" and re- ported to Allied Artists for dramatic (Continued on page 31) SelznickYOwnDisirib In England, France Bnt Via Others Elsewhere Selznick Releasing Organization will handle its own distribution in England and possibly France, but will release through local distribs on the rest of the Continent, according to present plans. Methods are now being worked out for physical han- dling of the product in England and France, if SRO determines to go ahead on its own in the latter coun- try. Milton Kramer, SRO board chair- man and counsel, gave the situation in England and France the o.o. in a quick trip there, from which he re- turned last week. Among other things, he huddled with Continental manager Paul White on plans for "Rebecca" preem at four theatres simultaneously in Paris May 22. Also discussed plans for opening of "Duel in the Sun" later this month in London's West End. Paris day-date setup on "Rebecca" is very unusual. It calls for the Normandie, Olympic, Moulin Rouge and Biarritz theatres. Deal wa3 made with SOGEC, government agency which compares with the U S.. Alien Property Custodian, holding all theatres in which Ger- mans had an interest. Chi Censer Chief Says Fix Self-Regulation OK Chicago, May 6. * Present day films are cleaning themselves up, was the statement issued by Capt. Timothy Lyne, head of Chi Censor Board in connection with his report on April activities which revealed that number pi necessary actions against films was materially reduced in the last several m O nths. Of 108 pix re- viewed, only one was banned, five pinked, and 88 cuts made. "Shoot to Kill," Screen Guild re- lease, was the banned film. "Adults only" label was affixed to "The Guilty," Monogram: "Scared to Death," Screen Guild; "Extenuating Circumstances," Lopert: "Life Be- gins Anew," Superfilrn, and a Clasa release "Bare Is the Detail." 'Duel Stalled in Chi Chicago, May 6. Chicago theatre will abandon regular stage show policy for one week and play "Duel in the Sun" day-and-date with the State-Lake, run house for single week. Pic was set for May 16 or 23 debut, but censor board has been holding the film longer than expected. Cen- sor board head, Capt. Timothy Lyne, said that pic would be reviewed thi» week