Variety (Jun 1947)

10 INTERNATIONAL •VARIETY'S' LONDON OPFICB • St. Martln'i glaee. Trafalgar Square So. Africa Mulls Feature for Big Coin in Booming Oriental Market •Johannesburg, May 22. -f- Return here of Eric Marshall from U. S. will tee off film production boom aimed at shoving South African films into the rich Orient market with the possibility that local films might be angled for world distribution also. Marshall has been on an equipment buying tour for Alexander Films. On his return he will speed construction of Alex- ander's 80-acre plant at Bradford Park here. Also under construction is a new studio for rival African Consolidated which, like Alexander, has its own theatre chain as well as production setup. J. Arthur Rank has bought into African Consolidated and (fere's a chance that production boom here may be highlighted by the loan of British players. Alexander is con- sidering use of American players and technicians where possible. Marshall was aided in buying trip in XJ. S. by Fred Casey, sound en- gineer and ex-vauder, who was here recently on a visit during which he temporarily resumed the vaude rou- tine he formerly did under name of Freddie Ernesto. Tour carried him over the Alexander chain and wound up with an offer to make his home here as studio manager for the new Alexander plant. Color Fix Ideal in So. Africa Understood Marshall's buying trip mainly was concerned with acquisi- tion of color equipment. Lush scen- ery locally lends itself to tint films. Production boom here might be aided by the fact that unions are virtually non-existent and labor is cheap. In addition te ' ready-made local market of some 14,000,000 peo- ple, films made here could easily be distributed throughout India and the Orient. Currently, Alexander is concen- trating on documentaries and com- mercial films, which are strong here. Commerical pix, known as Filmettes, are part of the regular bill in all South African theatres. 16m Pix Shows Cut Into Ireland's Circus Biz Dublin, May 27. Road showing of 16m films in rural areas oh regular one-night stands is knocking circus biz in some areas of Ireland. Shows usually play districts once a fortnight and in- dications are that coin is being diverted from tents to mobile box- offices. Operators of 16m units claim that everything is not as bright as it sounds because of heavy rentals and impending increase in tax on ad- mishes. Hall rentals also are nearing levels which threaten profitable operations. B.A. Opera Setting Up 300G Budget to Land Stars Despite Squawks Buenos Aires, May 27. The Buenos Aires Colon Opera management is going all-out this year to make the 1947 opera season a memorable one. There's been some protest by native singers against the unusually high talent budget, which will run into some- thing like $300,000 for stars such as Licia Albariese, Rose Bampton, Marie Caniglia, Astrid Varnay, Slianna Pederzini, Beniamino Gigli, Bruno Landi, Ferruccio Tagliavini and Set Svanholm. There was some clamor on the part of the extremists for the resig- nation of the municipal secretary .responsible, Senor Raul Salinas, but latter is an appointee of Senora de Peron and he has remained firmly in the saddle. Colon management was able to show that local talent would be amply paid for its piping, and that it had even gone so far as to pay the cost of passage from Europe for the return of Sara Men- kes, an Argentine singer, to enable her to participate in the opera season. Official circles have shown some displeasure at the refusal of some longhairs coming down from the U. S. to book their recitals at the official theatre, in view of the Colon's insistence on the right to broadcast their concerts over the muncipal airer. These exponents of the classics -have signed instead with Radio El Mundo for sponsored broadcasts and concerts are being booked for them in lesser theatres 'Everyman,' Plus Mozart Operas Jo Tee Off Salzburg Salzburg, May 25. Additional details of this year's Salzburg Festival, July 27-Aug. ,31, have been released by Ernst Lothar, theatre and music officer for U. S. Army's Information Service branch. Lothar, under Army directives, is offering cultural and material assist- ance to Austrians handling actual festival activities. The traditional Mozart operas will be "Cosi fan Tutte" and "Marriage of Figaro" this year, with Lothar Wallerstein, now guesting as stage director at Vienna State Opera, supervising. Otto Klemperer will direct preems of two operas new to Salzburg, Von Einem's "Danton's Death" and Rich- ard Straus' "Arabella." First will be a world preem. Customary outdoor production of "Everyman," which Max Reinhardt originated in Salzburg, again will be under direction of Helene Thimig Reinhardt, now a U. S. citizen. New names in the cast include Fritz Kort ner and Ernest Deutsch, both re turnees from U. S.; Joanna Terwin (Mrs. Alexander Moissi) and Theo Lingen, Viennese comic. Also scheduled are eight sym phonic concerts directed by John Barbirolli (British); Charles Munsch (French); Ernest Ansermet (Swiss); Otto Klemperer (U.S.); Hans Knap- pertbusch (German); Bernhardt Paumgartner (Austrian), and Anton Talich (Czech). Lothar hopes to get Marian Anderson, Ginette Niveu and Yehudi Menuhin, for recitals. Menu- hin was a smash at Salzburg's 1946 festival but U. S. vocalists that year were rated below European stand- ards. Lothar has announced that Bruno Walter will conduct opera and con- certs here and in Salzburg next fall. Lotte Lehman is also scheduled for a return to Vienna; which is gradu- ally picking up musical prestige, not by producing new native talents but mostly through luring distinguished exiles back for guest shots with State Opera or Philharmonic Or- chestra. Top names, including Fuertwang- ler (cleared for appearances in Ger- many but still verboten in Austria), Clemens Krauss, also banned for Nazi activities, and Herbert von Karajan remain off the Salzburg lists despite prospects some or all of them soon may be rehabilitated by native cultural committees. Ealing on Belgian Spot For War Pic Filming Brussels, May 29. Ealing Studios of Britain are on location here filming "Against the Wind," whose story deals with Bel- gian parachutists trained in England during' the war and their later ad- ventures in occupied Belgium. With Charles Crichton directing, picture stars John Slater who has re- covered from an injury recently sustained in a-plane accident at Le Bourget field, Paris. Mex Oscar For Dolores Del Rio Mexico City, May 27. Absent from the Hollywood scene for many years, Dolores Del Rio has been accoladed in her native Mexico for performance in Mexican films. Oscaring, a la Hollywood, is under auspices of the Academy of Cinema- tographic Arts and Sciences. A dinner held at the El Patio nitery here climaxed the awarding for which the Picture Production Workers union provided half the cost of the trophies. Oscars for 1945 went to: Pic, "La Barraca" ("The Hut"), based on the late Vincente Blasco Ibanez's novel. Female star, Dolores del Rio. Male star, Domingo Soler. Female support, Lilia Michel. Male support, Jose Baviera. Director, Ro- berto Gabaldon. Script, none. Adap- tation, Libertad Blasco Ibanez (nov- elist Blasco Ibanez's daughter, for La Barraca"). Cameraman, Victor Herrera. Music, Baltasar Tampet. Pedro Armendariz got a special prize for doing most for Mexico in pix in 1945. Oscars for 1946 were: Pic, "Enamo- ifada" ("Girl in Love"). Female star, Maria Felix. Male star, David Silva. Director, Emilio Fernandez. Female support, Lilia Michel. Male support, Fernando Soto. Scripter, Alejandro Galindo. Adaptation, Jose Revueltas. Staging, Jesus Bracho. Cameraman, Gabriel Figueroa., Editor, Gloria, Schoeman. Music, Manuel Esperon. Sandrew-Bauman Paces Swedish Picture Sked Stockholm, May 25 With the Sandrew-Bauman Film studio planning to make or distrib- ute seven pictures, company's pro- duction schedule is pacing some six other film-makers whose contem- plated pix range from a lone feature up to five or more. Heading S-B's aspirations is "The Poetry of Adalen," based on stories by Pelle Molin, with Iver Johans- son directing and Adolf Jahr as the 'star, plus "The Farms Around the Sea," a comeback for actress Anne- Marie Brunius. Buenos Aires Show Biz Plenty Boffy Thanks to Flood of Imported Talent Rank in Special Drive to Woo Kid Film Customers " London, May 29. With the screening of "Bush Christmas," first feature especially made for children, J. Arthur Rank has reached a significant phase in production for his Saturday Cinema Clubs. Realizing there's a dearth of Brit- ish films strictly for children, Rank formed a special department of Gaumont-British Instructional in 1944, for the sole purpose of produc- ing special films for children. They were to be shown at the Saturday Cinema Clubs of 389 Odeon and GaumonK theatres, which have a membership of more than 400,000 children between seven and 14, and also would be available to 600 Satur- day matinees organized by others cinema owners. An advisory coun- cil was formed with representatives of government and national bodies interested in the leisure time of children as members. Films made by the Children's En- tertainment Films are non-profit making. Admission to these shows is 10c, and less in poor districts. When films have been shown through Odeon and Gaumont-cir- cuits, they are available in 35m and 16m to children -anywhere. Pope Set for Peace Plea In New Documentary Pic Rome, May 27. Pope Pius XII has agreed to appear in "War Against War," docu- mentary picture being compiled by the Catholic Cinematographic Cen- ter, according to Vatican City sources. He will appeal for peace, speaking in seven languages, in Italian, French, Spanish, Portu- guese, Polish and German, besides English. Documentary picture, which is to run almost as long as a feature, has been in production for over a year. It will be released sometime in July. Labor Rows Stymie New Mexican Pix Mexico City, June 3. Making of new Mexican pix is at a standstill again in local studios be- cause of yet another row in the in- dustry — producers' demand to cut pay for some talent, and the demand of some help for wage hikes. Only current activity in the studios is continuance of making pix started before this quarrel. Producers, through their associa- tion, broke off talks intended to settle the row, when carpenters nixed an offer of a 30% pay hike. They want a 50% tilt and much less work. Peace is further snagged by directors, players and writers ganging up to nix the producers' proposition to cut their pay. They say this prop- osition is unfair ,because it makes them take the rap of retrenchment the producers aver is imperative to save the biz. Conflict has been tossed to the mixed employer-employee-govern- ment commission to come up with some sort of workable peace plan. In some cases it's reported producers are demanding 50%' pay cuts for talent. Production costs must be drastic- ally pared if the Mex pic industry -is to continue, according to Miguel Angel Sana, manager of the produ- cers group. He says that producers must have bank coin if they are to go on and the only way to get credits is to show the banks that they can make No. 1 pix at less cost. Produ- cers have been shut out of bank money for a long time. Big private banks are holding aloof from lending producers money because of several big-coin pix flopping at the boxof- fice and making loan repayments slow. Ambitious Plans Set For New Belgian Film Center Brussels, May 29. Plans to set up a Belgian "Holly- wood" have been disclosed with the purchase of a tract of 350 acres in the village of Howardries by an or- ganization known as Societe des Studios Cinematographiques. Deci- sion to establish a studio there was made when group attended a series of shows put on for Gen. George Patton's staff which had its camp pitched there. According to blueprints of SDSC, it contemplates the erection of four large sound stages and three small ones. Company is mEpping''produc- tion of 30 to 40 films annually, in- cluding original pictures in Dutch as well as educationals. Belgium's 1st Ballet Is Set by Valentine Belova Brussels, May 27, Ballets Beiges, Belgium's first ballet troupe, has been formed here by Valentine Belova. Russian^born dancer was prima ballerina of the Antwerp Royal Opera before the war. Fleeing irom German in- vasion, she was caught and im- prisoned in a concentration camp Later she went to N. Y. briefly to teach ballet, and returned to Bel- gium and her opera post in August last year. Her company gave its first pro- gram at Palais des Beaux-Arts here last week, and was well re ceived. Michael Charnley, former ly of Sadler's Wells and Jooss Ballet companies, is ;iead male star. Others include Rita Van Kelst, Mia Mertens, Maria Lamy, Adrienne Vander Beelen, Jose Nicola, Blanka Doom, Corneille de Licvre,, Marc Herstens and Ivi Tamar. '£ Dublin May Get Muny Theatre Dublin, May 27. Consideration is being given to establishment of a Municipal Play- house here to provide stages for both professional and non-profes- sional groups and also concert hall. Project has support of Lord Mayor John McCann. City has only four houses normally operating legit- shows and one seats only 100. Current London Shows (Figures show week of run) London, June 3. "Birdseller," Palace (1). "Bless the Bride," Adelphi (6). "Born Yesterday," Garrick (19). "Clutterbuck," Wyndham (39). "Eagle Two Heads," Globe (16). "Edward My Son," Majestys (1) "Guinea Pig," Criterion (68). "Here There," Palladium (9). "Jane," Aldwych (18). "Man Ministry," Comedy (22). "New Barabbas," Vaudeville (13). "Oklahoma!," (5). "Perchance to Dream," Hipp (111) "Piccadilly Hayride," Wales (12) "Power and Glory," Fortune (34). "Present Laughter," Haym'ket (7) "Proudly Present," Yorks (5). "Romany Love," Majestys (13) "She Wanted Cream," Apollo (14) "Sweelest Lowest," Ambass. (57)' "1066 All That," Sayville (6) "Together Again," Vic Palace (7) "Under Counter," Phoenix (79) "White Devil," Duchess (13) "Winslow Boy," Lyric (54). •Worm's View," Whitehall (5). Buenos Aires, May 27. The 1947 season here bids fair to be one of the biggest bonanza years the Argentine show biz has ever known. The city is flooded with Imported talent, and restaurateurs and show producers are gleefully rubbing their hands as they scan their balance sheets. At the Presidente Alvear theatre, a Pondal Rios and Olivari musical, "Honeymoon for Three," scored by Francisco Canaro and Marianito Mores, has turned in $50,000 for tha first month, at an admission scale of $1.55. This show stars Mexican warbler Jorge Negrete and wife Gloria Marin, with a score of lesser lights from Argentine legit. Enrique Discepolo has cleared $37,500 on "Wunder Bar" at the Politeama, on the first month's showing, but this show is not ex- pected to continue as flourishingly as it lacks' good talent. Bronenberg has another sock in a musical revue, starring pomedian Marcos Caplan and tango singer Sofia Bozan, at the tiny Maipo the- atre, capacity around 949. At an admission scale of $1, this show has grossed $30,000 for the first month. At the Astral theatre, the translated version of Somerset Maugham's "Rain," which got off to a late start in the early summer months, has run into 270 perform- ances, and has grossed over $25,000 monthly for seven months. Brazil- ian actress, Dulcina de Moraes, playing Sadie, acted in Spanish with such success she plans to return to Buenos Aires later in the year. Pepe Arias Flop Again Comedian Pepe Arias laid an egg • in a comedy by Ivo Pelay at the Comico theatre. It would be diffi- cult to say whether the play or the actor were responsible, but Arias has not hit a jackpot in two years. He is now readying a translation of Marcel Pagnol's "The Baker's Wife* in an attempt to' emulate Raimu. Apollo theatre is running "sainetes" (typical Spanish-Argentine come- dies) which grossed around $25,000 monthly, and turned away patrons nightly. This type of entertainment is patronized by the working classes, who now have plenty of money. Luisa Vehil's dramatic company, at the tiny Empire theatre, is gross- ing $12,500 monthly in a play by Andres Borras, titled "The Blue Rose." Since '.'Voice of the Turtle" and "My Dear Ruth" achieved their record runs at this house last year and in 1945, the miniature Empire is considered a "lucky" theatre. Tino Rossi, Corsican warbler, and long a favorite of the Argentinos via his disks, is making personal ap- pearances at the Odeon theatre. He has not turned out as good a boxof- fice bet as expected. Mexican songstress, Elvira Rios, is singing nightly at the Embassy Club, where the cover charge has been upped to $3 without wines (a new high for Buenos Aires), and Scotch is ladled out at $2 the jigger. This nitery is equivalent to New York's Stork Club or 21, and tables are made available only for the smart cajfe society crowd. Not-so-well- kriowns are given the s.r.o. sign. Snafu for, the Embassy owners is Elvira Rios' inability to turn up on time for her stints. On opening night, billed to appear .at midnight, she made her appearance at 2 a.m. Gon«; Rings Nicelyi Two blocks away from the Em- bassy Club, the Gong is crowded, every evening. This nitery has no floor show, but Louis Vola's and Oscar Aleman's jazz combos give out with the dansapation. This boite does not serve dinners, but Scotch and champagne are charged at prices as high as those at the Embassy. Owners of this nitery have sold their former Pancho's Bar on the famous Calle Florida for $200,000. They bought the place a few years back for only $92,500. The Tronic a Spanish-type vaude cafe, is "netting a $5,000 monthly profit, while shelling out large fees to entertainers. Mex warbler, Genaro Salinas, and Tip and Toe, acrobatic dancers, are currrently billed. BRITISH EXTRAS' HIKE London, May 29. Film Artistes Assn. and British Film Producers Assn. have' been conferring for some months, with likelihood that film extras will get $8 a day, a $2 raise over wartime. British studios will then be spend- ing an estimated $1,600,000 for extras annually.