Variety (Jun 1947)

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Wednesday, June 4, 1947 PICTURES S SLAP RANK'S ANGLO-U-S/CARm' The Un-American Way Show business knows too well the ways of publicity to gaze with other than a cold eye upon the Hollywood investigation by Congress* Un-American Activities Committee. The newspapers also are aware of the score, but when they can fit "Hollywood Red Probe" into a page one head it means circulation. It blows up into quite a bawl of yarn which, nevertheless, is neither a yard wide nor has it much wool. That's because the Un-American Committee won't lay it on the line by mentioning names. They say the picture business is full of Reds on the Hollywood end. Well, name 'em. There isn't a studio that won't help chase subversive elements off its lot. Yet all this has been said again and again, hashed over again and again. That "again and ' again." It has a familiar refrain. Are they going to blame pic- tures on him too? But. accusations as to Reds and Roosevelt? are not the burnup. Iu's when they claim that Hollywood has turned out pictures detrimental to this Government. Smile when you say that, Mister, or name names. Name the pictur*. Name the sequence. Name the scene. Put up or shut up. It's time. MAY POSTPONE 'RED'INQUIRY TILL FALL Washington, June 3. Full public hearings on Red In- fluences in Hollywood may not take place until fall, the House Un- American Activities Committee in- dicated last week as it prepared for the first stage of the hearings June 16. At that time it expects to get into the case of composer Hans Eisler, brother of commy leader Gerhard Eisler. Eisler has been subpoenaed to show here as have several other Hollywood figures. The really big show, however, which would call in 30 to 40 promi- nent industry figures, will not take place for weeks, or even months, because the committee wants plenty of time to prepare its oase. The three-man subcommittee Wbjcji .conducted the probe in Holly- (Continued on page 22) ABBOTT & COSTELLO MAY DO ONE FOR REPUBLIC Bud Abbott and Lou Costello may do one feature for Republic this year, Rep prexy Herbert J. Yates mentioned at a board meeting last Thursday (29). Comedy duo's con- tract with Universal-International gives them one outside picture a year. Rep is also putting up 30% of the money for "Red Pony," which indie producer Charles K. Feldman is cur- rently producing on the Rep lot. Rep's share of the budget actually constitutes a deferment on studio overhead, with Feldman providing the other 70%. Meet, according to a Rep spokesman, dealt mostly with routine business matters, with an- ticipated action on major policy changes being deferred until the next meet, slated for the end of June. Presnell, John Reinhardt Form New Indie Firm Hollywood, June 3. New indie producing company has been organized by Robert Presnell, Sr., and John Reinhardt. Tagged Arpi Productions, it will concen- trate on low-budget features. Pair will co-produce, with Pres- nell to write screenplays and Rein-i hardt set to direct. Negotiations are on with Screen Guild for release, with most of financing already ar- ranged. Three scripts are ready, "Rendezvous," "A m b' u s h" and "Strawhat," with producers owning option on the Dudley* Nichols-Stuart Anthony play, "Come Angel Band." SAG-Producers Powwows To Be Extended 30-60 Days Hollywood, June 3. Screen Actors Guild is expected to grant an extension of from 30 to 60 days on its contract agreement with producers to permit completion of negotiations on the new pact. Present extension expires June 15 and unlikely negotiations can be finished before mid-August. Understood that minor demands of actors have been agreed upon already but producers will continue to hold out for term contracts, as in the past, as well as rights on re- issues, radio and television. Sperling Re-Pacts Hyde Hollywood, June 3. Donald Hyde has inked pact for another year as veepee and general manager of Milton Sperling's United States pictures. Albert Warner, Kalmenson In Big Stock Deals Philadelphia, June 3. Two transactions in Warner' Bros, common stock topped the movement of film securities during the past month, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Albert Warner acquired an addi- tional 4,000 shares :o make his total 434.000. His trust reported holding 21,000 shares. Benjamin Kalmenson, New York, unloaded 4.000 shares of Warners. Jack Cohn added 1,218 shares of Columbia common while his trusts acquired 666 more. Abraham Mon- tague purchased 222 shares; Abra- (Continued on page 20) PLEA TO D. OF J. By ABEL GREEN J. Arthur Rank's theatres in England, in an accented endeavor to woo U. S. dollar exchange, are accidentally or otherwise, accord- ing to trade-wise observers, favor- ing Rank-affiliated film product, to the detriment of non-theatre-own- ing U. S. producer-distributors such as United Artists, Columbia, Repub- lic and Monogram. This may blow the top off the U. S. anti-trust suit, particularly as regards the theatre divorcement phase; The Justice Dept., it is reported, may be pre- sented shortly with complaints from so-called Little 3 producers that this claimed "cartel system" is working to their detriment. A number of UA producers no- tably have been incensed by the un- official embargo on their product. Their sales representatives have merely been told that there just doesn't seem to be room for any (Continued on page 20) Par Pledges More Bookings for Rank But Indie Circuits Still Skeptical MARCH TO PLAY LEAD IN 'PULITZER PRIZE' Hollywood, June 3. Negotiations for "The Pulitzer Prize," original screenplay by G'eza Herczeg, are nearing a close, with Columbia the top bidder. Deal is on for Fredric March to play the leading role. Robert Oakley agency is representing Herczeg. and Music Corp. of America is handling March's end. Story deals with crusading jour- nalist Joseph Pulitzer, Herczeg's first screenplay in nine years. March is lending a hand with the screenplay in New York, where he just finished a run in "Years Ago.'* Columbia plans making it after March winds up a commitment for a picture with RKO. Jackson Whodunit Bought by Metro Hollywood, June 3. Metro bought "The Murder Mys- tery." whodunit with psychological twist by Charles Jackson, from 70- page treatment. Yarn will be pub- lished as a novel in the fall. Studio is now repping for an early filming with Irving Lazar, to whom Jackson first sold the story, as associate producer. BYRNES ONCE BEFOREREPPED PIC INDUSTRY Hollywood, June 3. Former Secretary James F. Byrnes has joined the Motion Picture Assn. as counsel on industry matters, ac- cording to announcement by Eric Johnston, MPA prexy, which con- firms a Variety report on May 7. Previous attempt two years ago to get Brynes to join the motion pic- ture industry was frustrated by President Truman. Twenty years ago, however, Byrnes, then a lawyer in Spartanburg,, N. C, did a job for Will Hays in helping to kill a state censorship bill directed' against the film industry. *In July, 1945, then a Supreme Court Justice, Byrnes was offered a post as head of the Motion Picture Export Assn. by ■ Hays. Truman asked Hays to withdraw the offer as he wanted Byrnes to succeed Ed- ward Stettinius as Secretary of State. Previous offer was understood to be $75,000. Announcement yester- day (2) did not mention salary, but it is reported the same as previously made. Byrnes' background as a world (Continued on page 20) Par Sets Dodie Smith To Develop James Yarn Hollywood, June 3. Paramount set British playwright Dodie Smith to develop treatment of Portrait of a Lady," from Henry James Novel. Fall filming is skedded, .^Charles Brackett producing. - r Belgians Sweet On Yanks Co-Op At Brussels Fete Brussels, June 3. Formal opening here yesterday (Monday) of the U. S. information center was a terrific success, deeply impressing the Belgians with the fact that Americans are cooperating in earnest with the International Film Festival. Speeches were delivered by festi- val boss Van Hecke, festival prexy Pierre Vermeylen, who's minister of the interior, former premier Paul Van_Zeeland and jCol. Frank Mc- Carthy, Motion Picture Assn.'s Euro- pean manager. All phases of the opening were handled in good (Continued on page 20) i Paramount's theatre circuits and those of its partners will extend greater playing time i v the future to British films, Barney Balaban, Par's prexy, said this week. Company head, along with Leonard Golden- son, Par's veepee in charge of the- atres, met with John Davis, chief aide to J. Arthur Rank, and Robert Benjamin, prexy of Rank's U. S. or- ganization, to tal'- over the problem last week. Balaban declared, follow- ing the meet, that he had no doubt Par's partners would do their best to book the Anglo pix but stressed the fact that the parent organization could not dictate the partners' poli- cies. Rank's emissaries emerged from the huddle equally certain that Paramount would stretch its book- ings. Balaban had olfered "every co- operation," Benjamin declared,' and the Rank officials were more than satisfied with the meet's results. AU Paramount's partners, according to Benjamin, had agreed to play British films as result of Balaban's plea for a better break during the recent Arrowhead Springs confab. Robert Wilby, one of Par's southern part- ners, had pledged that support in behalf of his confreres after the Balaban speech, Benjamin said. "There isn't any question of U. S. exhibitors booking British films, once they click in opening runs," (Continued on page 22) Nelson to Discuss Economic Post In Mex With Aleman Hollywood, June 3. Donald Nelson, head of the So- ciety of Independent Motion Picture Producers, goes to Mexico City, June 15, for two or three-week hud-- dies on assuming post as economic adviser to President Miguel Aleman. He'll be accompanied by Francis Alstock, formerly coordinator of inter-American affairs and a close friend of Aleman, .and Leo Morrison, associate of both Nelson and Al- stock. Nelson has been working closely with President Truman and the State Dept. on deal with President Aleman, and it's not likely that any announcements of whether or not he'll continue with SIMPP will be forthcoming until after the Mexico meetings. National Boxoffice Survey Decoration Day Crowds Boost Biz—'Carrolls,' 'Duel,' 'Egg,' 'Barbaree,' 'Yearling' Pace Big 10 Long Decoration Day weekend is giving biz a shot in the arm cur- rently, in nearly every key city, with the overall total in keys covered by VAr.iETV greatest in several weeks. Current week witnessed "Two Mrs. Carrolls" (WB) forging ahead of "Duel in Sun" (SRO) to land first coin. This is the first time in four weeks that "Duel" has not wound up in first slot. "Duel" finished only slightly ahead of "Egg and i". (U) which continues racking up great grosses wherever opening. However, "Egg" currently is not playing its initial weeks in many keys but the sheer weight of nine playdates plus a terrific $76,000 being registered in Chicago is ena- bling it to stay so high in rankings. Other leaders in Big 10, in order of money done and playdates. are "High Barbaree" (M-G), "Yearling" (M-G), "Calcutta" (Par), "Home- stretch" (20th), "Ramrod" (UA), "Honeymoon" (RKO) and "Farmer's Daughter" (RKO). Runners-up. showing less than $73,000, are "Moss Rose" (20th), "Odd Man Out" (U), "Sea Wolf"—"Sea Hawk" (WB^ (re- issues) and "Imperfect Lady" (Pan. This is the first stanza that "Home- stretch" has moved up into the big money list. Same is true of "Honey- moon." "Ramrod," which places eighth in the Big 10 class, is pacing Louisville and showing . unusual strength in Boston. Among new- comers, "Moss Rose" which landed in runner-up coin, is leader in Los Angeles. It shapes up so well on the basis of playing four houses there and one in Baltimore. Although playing only in N. Y., "Possessed" (WB) is showing such sock possibilities there that it's counted on already as a future strong winner. Another new picture, "Great Expectations" (U) is soaring to a great $140,000 in second week at the N. Y. Music Hall. "Cheyenne" (WB), while disappointing in St. Louis, is fairly stout at $21,000 in Denver. "Copacabana" (UA), which had its N. Y. opening moved back several weeks, is lofty $20,000 in Detroit. "Framed" (Col) is doing nicely in N. Y. and San Francisco. "Happened on Fifth Ave." (Mono), which opens in N. Y. next week, shapes as sturdy in Providence currently. (CoTiiplPie Bo.ro/Tice Reports on Pages 13-15) RANK'S OLIVE-BRANCH ENCORE ON THE COAST Hollywood, June 3. J. Arthur Rank did a repeat per- formance on his mass New York in- terview when he, along with Robert R. Young, railroader who heads Pathe Industries, was introed to the local press by Eric Johnston, Motion Picture Assn. pfexy. As in the east, only the Dove of Peace was apparent with Rank telling the as- semblage that "the British motion picture industry wants friendly co- operation instead of economic war." Young again stressed the need for free foreign trade as the best way to stamp out economic distress throughout the world. With Rank and Young, film big- gies J. Cheever Cowdin, Nate Blum- berg, Bill Goetz, Arthur Krim, Ken- neth Young and Aubrey Schenck (Continued on page 22) Trade Mark Registered FOUNDED BY SIME SILVERMAN Published Weekly bj VARIETY, Inc. Sid Silverman, President 154 West 46th St., New York 19, N. Y. SUBSCRIPTION Annual $10 Foreign $11 Single Copies ?5 Cents Vol. 166 120 No. 13 INDEX Bills 49 Chatter 54 Film Reviews 16 Foreign 10 George Frazier 38 House Reviews 49 Inside Legit 50 Inside Music 38 Inside Pictures 22 Inside Radio 32 Legitimate 50 Literati ... 53 Music 38 New Acts 48 Night Club Reviews 48 Obituary 55 Orchestras , 38 Pictures 3 Pre-Production NewV . "7 Radio 25 Radio Reviews 29 Frank Scully 53 Television 30 Vaudeville 45 DAILY VARIETY (Published In Hollywood by Dally Variety, f/td.i $10 a Year—$12 Foreign