Variety (Aug 1947)

EASTERN PROD/S LABOR 'SAVING' Exhibitor Showmanship Pointed Up By Jack Warner as B.O. Threat Offset Chicago, Aug. 5. ♦ Revival of showmanship in ex- hibition and cutting of production costs without impairing product quality will be sufficient to offset threats of a serious boxoffice reces- sion, Jack L. Warner declared today (5) at a Warner Bros, sales conven- tion attended by 125 members of the company's western sales organiza- tion. Ben Kalmenson, vice-prexy and general sales manager, who headed the similar eastern sales convention in New York, July 31-Aug. 2, is presiding. Chi session, for three days, opened yesterday (4). Warner, exec veepee in charge of WB production, announced that the Burbank studios will maintain a capacity production schedule through 1947-48, during which season WB •will release about the same number of features as last year. Last year WB released 23. In announcing next year's schedule, Warner warned the conclave that they would "be facing a competitive market ^such as you will have to reach far back in - your memories to recall. We are deal- ing with value-wise audiences all along the line," he. said, "and. they mean to get their money's worth out of a picture or they will spend their money for something else." . Warner disclosed that 47 story properties were currently being readied for the cameras. Empha- sizing that the WB studio is not an- ticipating any particular trend, Warner broke down the 47 proper- ties as follows: 24 romantic dramas, eight adventure stories, five com- edies, four musicals and six under the heading of mystery, romance and biography. Included among these were six Broadway legit plays, in- cluding "Christopher Blake," "John Loves Mary," "Johnny Belinda," (Continued on page 16) Warners Has Several Wrinkles to Iron Out In Newsreel Buy-out With Warners entering the news- reel business next week for the first time in its history,' it's expected to have an advantage over the four other companies already in the field by not being subject to the agree- ments now in effect among the others. Numerous problems in Coverage remain for WB to iron out, however, before it's believed the company will be ready to compete on an equal footing with its compet- itors. Universal, Metro, Fox-Movietone and Paramount now operate on a pooling basis in both Germany and the Far East, a carryover from war (Continued on page 18) 6 Into Production For Metro This Month Hollywood, Aug. 5. Six features, including two under independent banners, go into pro- duction at Metro this month, three of them in Technicolor. Indies are "State of the Union," by Liberty Films, and "Joan cf Lor- raine," by Sierra Pictures. Metro's own 1 starters are "Luxury Liner," a tinted musical; "Homecoming," star- ring Clark Gable, "Hills-of Home," starring Lassie, and "The Big City," starring Margaret O'Brien. British Treasury Controls Pic Coin Of U.S. Showings With British economists and government leaders stressing the desperate situation in England's dol- lar-exchange shortage, it's been re- vealed that not one cent of Amer- ican dollars goes to J. Arthur Rank or other British producers whose films earn money in the U. S. All earnings of British films in the U. S. are deposited in banks under jurisdiction of the British treasury, with British producers get- ting pounds sterling in return. Brit- ish government then uses this money to purchase food and 1 other com- modities in the U. S. As a result, the government benefits consider- ably from British films that play here by getting a chance to latch onto much-needed dollars. Motion Picture Assn. prexy Eric Johnston, in fact, stressed last week that the British film industry could eventu- ally become one of that country's chief gatherers of foreign exchange. Manner of payment is part of the government's dollar - conservation plan, which has been in effect since the outbreak of war in 1939. It was recently reaffirmed to prevent the possible loss of extra dollars. Rank, moreover, who owns a considerable share of common stock in Univer- sal-International, gets not a penny in dividends from that company. Instead, as with his American film grosses, his earnings are deposited in banks and converted 1 for him into pounds. STRESS UNIONS' SIMPLE SETUP Hollywood producers shooting films in New York can save 15-20% of their normal cost of Coast opera- tion because of the comparative simplicity of the film labor union setup in the east. That's the peg on which Harold Lewis, manager of the new RKO-Pathe studios in N. Y., will hang a concerted pitch to lure more major film production east- ward during a forthcoming trip to the Coast. He's slated to leave Aug. 15. Stressing that David O. Selznick, the first major producer to use the Pathe studios, had approved the fa- cilities offered during the N. Y. shooting of "Portrait of Jenny," Lewis disclosed that Selznick had picked up an option to lens two more films at the studios. Under the contract, one of these must be start- ed before the end of the year. To date, Selznick has not announced what the picture will be\. In contrast to Hollywood where there's a separate union to take care of each individual phase of produc- tion, most of the N. Y. film workers are consolidated into a single union, Local 52 of the International Alli- ance of Theatrical Stage Employees, according to Lewis. That includes soundmen, props, grips, electricians and assistant directors. Producers (Continued on page 31) MONO'S AA OUTFIT VOTED INTO MPA Voting of Allied Artists into the Motion Picture Assn. and the Mo- tion Picture Export Assn. last week ' makes it the only minor distrib in the MPA and the first minor to join the MPEA since the export pool was set up early last year.' Allied Artists *s an affiliate of Monogram, with the same officers serving both com- panies, and the new memberships carry Mono along with them. AA accession to the two organiza- tions was approved at MPA's and MPEA's respective board meetings last Wednesday (30) and announced by Eric Johnston, prexy of both associations, this week. Effective date is Sept. 1. Initial pic being prepared for MPEA release abroad •s "It Happened on Fifth Avenue." Coming of AA into the Export A^sn. is especially welcomed by that body since it is set up as an American monopoly to deal in those countries abroad which have national film monopolies. Each new company added to the eight majors that originally comprised the mem- bership gives the. MPEA greater strength .in its dealings overseas. Likewise it gives the American in- dustry added control in selection of Product to go abroad, thus avoiding the showing in foreign countries of nlms inimical to U. S. interests. MPEA Set to Handle Official German Reels With the takeover of German film distribution from the Military Gov- ernment by the Motion Picture Ex- port Assn. shortly, MPEA is also preparing to handle preparation of the official newsreel. It is obligatory for all theatres in the American and British zones of Germany and Aus- tria to play the reel. Newsreel is now made up in Munich by the British and Ameri- can Military Governments, using clips from all five U. S, reels, British reels and stuff made by British and American Army photogs. It is sold to exhibs at a minimum -price. Under the new setup, clips will continue to come from the <amc sources and the same policy will be followed. Army and civilian officials will supervise. Prep Par Sales Drive Los Angeles. Aug. 5. Georgo A. Smith and Harold Wirthwein left for Des Moines to open a series of sales meetings pre- liminary to Paramount's 1947 drive. Following the Des Moines meeting tomorrow (Wed.), other sessions will be staged in St. Louis, Kansas City, Omaha, Denver, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Portland and San Francisco, winding up in Los Angeles Aug. 27-28. Company's annual sales drive opens Aug. 31 and runs through Nov.- 29. Name Advisory Group As Pix-Radio Liaison Hollywood, Aug. 5. Mai Boyd, indie radio-films ex- ploiteer, will head the motion pic- ture advisory committee of the Hol- lywood Advertising Club, composed of six others who will act as a per- manent liaison between pix and radio industries. Aim is to be on call to studios making films with radio backgrounds as technical ad- visers, to minimize lampooning of radio a la "The Hucksters" and cre- ate more authentic backgrounds. Also serving on the committee are Bob Coleson, of Coast branch of National Assn. of Broadcasters; Bob Rains, Universal-International radio contact; Marty Lewis, Paramount's radio rep; May Sibley, of Bank of America, a neutral; Maurice Binder, Columbia Pictures, and Ed Cash- man, Coast rep for Kudner ad agency. PRC Eagle-Lion Due to Complete Amalgamation No Later Than Sept. 1 PRC Has Backlog Of Dozen Pictures Hollywood, Aug. 5. ■ Backlog of unreleased pictures at PRC amounts to an even dozen, two more than the number at this time last year. In addition, the studio has two features before the lenses, "Headin' for Heaven" and "The El Lobo Mystery." Completed and awaiting release are "Bury Me Dead." "Gashouse Kids in Hollywood," "Ghost Town Renegades," "Gashouse Kids Go West," "Railroaded," "Black Hills," "Shadow Valley," "Return of the Lash," "Check Your Guns," "Blonde Savage," "Linda Be Good" and "Gun Law." Smaller Exhibs Benefit by New 20th Sales Plan New 20th-Fox distribution plan, designed by sales chief Andy W. Smith, Jr., to help smalltown and other low-grossing theatres, and at the same time derive more revenue from them, will be expanded to in- I elude the entire U. S. starting Mon- day (11). Plan, which basically offers such exhibitors 20th's best films on a slid- ing-scale deal that can go as low as 15% and not over 40%, was first out- lined at the New Jersey Allied con- vention in Atlantic City last June 25. Since then, the plan has been tested in the New Haven territory where, according to Smith, it's proved that it can accomplish its ob- jectives. Sales chief announced its adoption for the rest of the country at a North Central Allied meet in Minneapolis yesterday (Tuesday). In addition to smalltown exhibs, many of whom operate their houses with only the help of their immedi- ate families, the plan is applicable to exhibs operating a "sub-subse- quent run" house in a large city or operating what Smith terms "prob- lem" theatres. Many of these oper- (Continued on page 16) Complete amalgamation of Pro- ducers Releasing Corp. into Eagle- Lion, long in the cards, is set to take place no later than Sept. 1. PRC's existence will cease in every way, except as a producing unit making exploitation-type product for E-L release. Contract of Harry Thomas, PRC prexy, is now under negotiation for cancellation. Included in the deal by which he leaves the company may be a provision giving him a release for a series of pix to be made on his own. His son, Jerry, for the past few years has been making the "Eddie Dean" westerns which PRC distribs. Other than Thomas, all PRC execs will stay on in the new setup, at least for the time being. E-L's top- pers will continue to run the com- bined companies. They are Arthur Krim, prexy; Bryan Foy, v.p. in charge of production; Alfred W. Schwalberg, v.p. and general sales- manager, and Max E. Youngstein, di- rector of advertising and publicity. E-L, organized only 10 months ago, was antedated a number of years by PRC and used PRC's ex- change setup. E-L's own sales de- partment consisted of only nine field supervisors. However, for the past several months Schwalberg has to all Intents and purposes directed the entire setup of both companies. Pub- ad departments were officially com- bined under Youngstein in April. PRC has, had nine district mana- gers, but no division managers. Aim (Continued from page 17) Briefs From the Lots Hollywood, Aug. 5. Albert Kyder drew a top role in "T-Man" at Eagle-Lion . . . Argosy chartered an air ambulance to stand by during the filming of "War Party" in Monument Valley, Ariz. . . . Katherine Locke signed for a featured role in "The Snake Pit" at 20th-Fox . . . Ben Stoloff re- turned from Mexico City with a rough cut of Eagle-Lion's "Adven- tures of Casanova." . . . "If This Be My Destiny" is the new tag on "The Big Curtain," to be produced by Alson Productions for 20th-Fox release . . . Henry and Phoebe Eph- ron assigned to screenplay "John Loves Mary" at Warners ... Col. Paul K. Davidson signed as tech- nical advisor on "Stations West" at RKO . . . Arthur Shields, former Abbey Theatre actor, drew a role in "My Own True Love" at Para- mount." . . . "Mary Hagen" at Warners will be released under its original title, "That Hagen Girl." . . . Deanna Dur- bin checked in at Universal-Inter- national for "Up in Central Park," in which she will co-star with Dick Haymes and Vincent Price . . . Jerry Wald and Jean Negulesco started north to "scout locations for "Johnny Belinda." Gene Fowler signed for a walk-on part in "The Senator Was Indiscreet" at Universal-International . . . PRC bought "The Spiritualist," written by Crane Wilbur, who will direct the picture . . . Lcnore Aubert and Alan Baxter draw top roles in "The Prairie," to be produced and di- | reeled by Frank Wisbar for Zenith Pictures . . ; Two carny outfits, Famous Ferris Shows and Patterson- Yankee Circus, moved into 20th-Fox for a week's work in "Nightmare Alley." . . . Max King purchased "I'll Give You Till Monday," mys- tery yarn by Paul Francis Webster and Ken Crossen for October pro- duction. Edmund Gwenn draws the key role in "Hills of Home," Technicolor production at Metro, starring Lassie. . . . Leo Genn signed by Independent Artists for the male lead opposite Rosalind Russell in "The Velvet j Touch." . . . "The Kick-Off is the re- lease tag on the Glenn Davis-Doc Blanchard football picture, previous- ly known as "On Parade" and "Yankee Rebel." . . . Walter Kings- ford returned to the screen for the first time in three years in "The Black Arrow" at Columbia. . . . Ray Nazarro will direct "Rose of Santa Rosa" at Columbia. . . . Roy Del Ruth Productions acquired all rights to "The King of Swat," Bob ConsI- dine's novel based on the life of Babe Ruth. . . . Edmund Lowe draws a supporting role in Leo McCarey's picture, "Good Sam," co-starring Ann Sheridan and Gary Cooper. . . . Columbia signed Ray Enright to direct "Corner Creek," Randolph Scott starrer, based on a magazine £tory by Luke Short. Picture will be in Cinecolor, with Harry Joe Brown as producer, starting Aug. 15. . . . A Frank Capra camera crew be- gan shooting aerial sequences in I San Antonio for the forthcoming pic I version of "State of the Union." Steady Stream Of Rank's Pic Personnel Resumes to U. S. With J. Arthur Rank once more back in his London headquarters following his visit to the U. S„ the steady stream of Rank personnel to this country has again resumed. One of his top executives and a star have already arrived in N. Y., and another exec, plus a production chief, are due in next week. First to arrive was Robert Weait, treasurer of the J. Arthur Rank Organization, who came in on the postwar maiden voyage of the Queen Mary yesterday (Tuesday) with his family. Weait, who's also in charge of the Rank organizations in Latin America and head of Rank's 16m ac- tivities, will make his permanent residence in New York, Also arriving on the Mary was David Farrar, star of "Black Nar- cissus" and "Frieda," both of which will open in N. Y. next week. Far- rar will remain in N. Y. for two weeks of radio appearances and press interviews to ballyhoo the films and will then fly to various key (Continued from page 17) N.Y. PUBLICISTS PREP WAGE-HIKE DEMANDS Following on the heels of the Screen Office and Professional Em- ployees Guild, Screen Publicists Guild is preparing wage-hike de- mands to be presented to the New York film companies under their union contracts' wage-reopening clause expiring Sept. L. Although no formal representations have been made to the companies as yet. SPG's negotiating committee is expected to follow SOPEG's suit with a demand for increases of $10, or 40™, which- ever is greater. Upcoming union-company talks will affect approximately 400 pub- licists in the homeoffices of Para- mount, Warner, 20th-Fox. Metro, RKO, UA, Universal, Columbia and Republic in addition to the Loew's and RKO theatre circuits. Meanwhile, SOPEG's negotiations for a new union contract covering frontoffice exchange workers in Loew's, UA, 20th-Fox and Columbia continued over last weekend with- out conclusive results. SOPEG de- mands include wage increases of $10, of 30%, whichever is higher; 35- hour week instead of the present 40. and an increase in the number of paid holidays.