Variety (Oct 1947)

INTERNATIONAL If Cant See 'little Hwood' in Aussie Resulting From 30% Coin Holdback Sydney, Oct. ,16. + Despite the pact between IT. S film companies and the Australian government about aid to local fllm production via that 30% distribution revenue holdback, an impartial sur- vey indicates that there is Binall chance of American companies ..jet- ting up picture production here for a long time, if ever. It's figured that the 30% rental coin temporary freeze will amount to about $2,000,- 000 annually. - U S. film companies fully realize that any full-scale feature film mak- ing down here would entajl ship- ping of up-to-date equipment, possi- bly building new studios and im- porting of talent before the first scepe could be shot. Yank com- panies always have avoided going }n for Aussie production for that very reason. They also realiza that once started it would have to be carried on in- definitely in order to break even on* the initial production outlay. There's also the angle of the precedent it would set since it would undoubt- edly bring demands from' other countries that U. S. producers launch full-scale film-making in their lands. There's hardly one modern studio in , Australia today. Cinesound- Pagewood, operated by J. Arthur Bank-Norman B. Rydge interests, halted production as soon as the British government invoked that 75% tax since this impost' would cover pictures made in Aussie. While the Rahk-Rycfge setup 'report- edly is heartily in favor of making pictures here- and ready to spend heavy coin for technical equipment and talent, it's ' economically , un- sound right now. ^ Rydge, who is rated a shrewd business man both in the Australian- film industry and other business down here, naturally is watching the purse-strings on any extensive production just now sinpe tht new British tax is rated too much of problem to hurdle. Obviously, any pictures made down here by U. S. companies also would come under the 75% British tax handicap. LONDON SEES SURE BET IN STARLIGHT ROOF London, Oct. 28. Looking like a surefire success, "Starlight Roof," a lavish twice- nightly revue, bowed at -the Hippo- drome Thursday : (23). As produced by Val Parnell and Robert Nesbitt, show is a pleasant and engaging mixture with one of its stars, Vic Oliver, in his best form in years: Pat Kirkwood is a welcome return from Hollywood but Fred Emney's cdmedy material needs strengthen- ing. Especially radiant is 12-year- old Julie Andrews, daughter of the Canadian vaude team of Ed- and Barbara Andrews, who outshone the stars opening night in a prima donna debut. • Wally Boag scores as the balloon bugler, while blonde Hollywood dancer Barbara Perry and American ballerina Marilyn Hightower also rate acclaim. Michael Bentine, a new British comedy discovery, reg- isters with a novel act. Music is by George Melachrino, who also leads the Starlight orchestra, while Eric Maschwitz authored some of" the lyrics. Latter collabed with Matt Brooks on the sketches. Nesbitt • staged and Joan Davis handled the dance arrangements. In the only other opening of the Week, "AU Over the Town" preemed at the Playhouse theatre last Tues- day (21). Piece is an entertaining newspaper comedy by R. F. Delder- field, who authored the successful "Worm's Eye View," now in its 26th week. Play, although well acted and well received, is unlikely to repeat Hie lengthy run of "Worm's." London Legit Protests Proposed Tax Boost London, Oct. 21. Theatrical Managers Assn. is con- sidering sending a deputation to Chancellor of the Exchequer Hugh Da It on , to protest a proposed boost in the legit entertainment tax. Or- ganization contends that not even the most successful show could run in the West End or anywhere else if the present impost is hiked. Any increases would also tend to widen the gap between ordinary commer- cial productions and those ventures backed by the tax-free Arts Council. Currently, top seat tariffs in the West End are about $2;75. Any new tax would up' this bite to at least $3.25. Patrons have, already squawked against some theatres which have abolished their gallery and made the upper circle their cheapest seats at 75c, In the event of a heavier tax theatregoers would find themselves forking.over at. least a minimum of $1.20 for admission. Maas' 8-Week Junket Irving Maas, vice-prexy and gen- eral manager of Motion Picture Ex- port Assn., leaves Friday (31) for an eight-week global junket cover- ing MPEA territories.. Itinerary will take him first to the Orient for in- spection of the .MPEA's offices in Tokyo, Seoul and Batavia. While in Berlin, Maas expects to hold confabs with American Mili- tary Government officials with a view to expediting transfer of film distribution controls to MPEA. Burma, Eire Add to Freeze With more and more business being lost as a result of Great Brit- ain's crackdown, not only in England but in countries under British rule, American film, company foreign chiefs this week are trying to single out just what foreign lands today don't have some sort of'.coin freeze or ther restriction. Foreign toppers Wefe informed that no permits to import pictures into Burma are being allowed by the new Burmese government. No remittances are coming out of the country either. This is another part of the British Empire. While not a big market, it is merely another loss to be chalked up on the dwindling foreign account side of the ledger. It was also revealed in N. Y. that Ireland was tied up oh U. S. films' just as much as England. American distributors find they can't ship to Ireland since that part of the Brit- ish Isles in unable to pay except through the British treasury. How- ever, Yank distribs are getting money out on old shipments already in Ireland. Recap by foreign chiefs this week reveals that even in; Latin-America only Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Panama, Venezuela and Colombia currently freely remit co.in on busi- ness done by American companies in that market. Restrictions of one sort or other prevail in all other Latin-American countries. Brazil at present remits most of rental money but in recent months it has been at a spasmodic rate. PARIS LEGIT GETS OKAY ON 33$ TILT ON TIX Paris, Oct. 23. The Prefect of Police has author- ized legit managers to tilt admissions from 15% to 33%, according to the kind of show. Top increase is for revues such as Folies Bergere. with a 400"Tranc ($3.20) ceiling. Straight comedy only gets a 15%' increase while vaude gets 20%. Cost of operating theatres is in- creasing to such an extent that managers complain that they barely cover expenses. Current raise of all salaries by 11% is already deemed insufficient against high cost of liv- ing and most unions are insisting on a 57% increase on current level. The transportation strike which blanketed Paris during the Sunday (19) weekend for four days affected showbiz variously according to the type of house. On the Champs Elysees it was a practical snafii, class patronage refusing to walk there and back. Nabes were far less affected, as shown by the Gau- mont and hex, both playing "Best Years" for the third week, register- ing together over >20,000 admissions on Sunday (19) against 22,000 for the first stanza's Sunday. • Italo Activity Up 50% DueTo U.S. Fixer Influx Recent trend of Hollywood film- makers to produce in Italy has re- sulted in a 50% increase in studio activity there, according to Emil Lustig, exec-veepee of the newly organized Westport - International Films, Inc. Just back from a seven- week junket . to Paris, Rome and Prague, the foreign fllm distributor pointed out that there were other advantages in making pix there aside from utilizing blocked remit- tances. Beauty of current Italian produc- tion, Lusltig declared, lies in its cheap labor and ample, studio facili- ties, along with a 16% cash rebate given producers by the Italian gov- ernment on domestic grosses of their Italian-made films.' In his recent trip' Lustig acquired the U. S. distribution rights to four French and Italian films and has options on three others. Pix already pacted include the Annabella star- rer, "My Name Was Lili," which will be dubbed into English in France. Produced this year by Francilex, the picture will be re- leased in the U. S. as "Lili.". His other French purchase was "Le Corbeau," made during the occupa- tion. Italian buys are "Prelude d'Amour" {"Prelude to Love") and "The Wandering Jew," directed by Geoff redo -Alessendrini. . TuVning to French production difficulties, Lustig ' said that costs have leaped more than 100% in com- parision with 1936. French film men also find financing a knotty problem chiefly because they have lost a large portion : of the European market as far as distribution is con- cerned. Most of eastern Europe is under the-Russian sphere and then, too, Britain has been written off since the advent of the ad valorem tax. In addition, French producers contend with labor unrest and electricity is apt to be shut off at any hour of the day. Nationalization of the Czech. fllm industry has created a paradox, Lustig observed. The government invited him to produce there and is interested in turning some of its facilities .over to foreign filmmakers. But despite the fact that the Bar- andorf studio in Prague is the largest and most modern in ali Europe, the situation there is im- possible, Lustig declared. Chief damper on the interest-of foreign film men is the strict regimentation of artists and technicians by the state. Exhibs Map Trans-Canada Drive To Nix 20% Amuse. Tax as War Measure Budapest Hands Out First Legit Oscars Budapest, Oct. 15. First awards of the Hungarian Artistic Council for outstanding act- ing' nv legit 'went to Laszlo Keieti for ;his performance as Kit Carson in William Saroyan's "Time of Your Life," and Maria Sulyok who re- cently played Hippia in Imre Madach's "The Tragedy of Man:" Each prize amounts to 1,000 forints (about $»'.5) and is contributed by the . Zoltan Tildy "Artistic Fund, named for'the President of the Re- public. Award is based on a report of a committee of the ' Council which covers all shows. Prizes to deserv- ing thespians are expected to con- tinue as a permanent policy of the Council. Prior to turning to drama Keieti was a comic. He switched last year when he appeared in J. B. Priestley's "Unknown City." Miss Sulyok is a veteran Shakespearean actress. Italy Puts U.S. Pix Funds In Special Category Rome. Oct. 28. Frank McCarthy, European repre- sentative for the Motion Picture Assn. has obtained concession from the Italian tax commission exempt- ing American picture funds from the 4% patrimony tax levied last No- vember, to succeed Louis Lazar as haad of Tax covers all capital in Italy, but Paramount's continental theaties. frozen U. S. funds have been put ; Lazar returns to New York in De- into special category. i ccmber. Edelstein s Par Post Paris. Oct. 28. Richard Edelstein has been named Current London Shows London, Oct. 28. (Figure shows weeks oj run) "Annie Get Gun," Col'sm (21). "Bless the Bride," Adelphi (27). "Born Yesterday," Garrick (40). "Chiltern Hundreds," Vaude (9). "Crime of Foley," Comedy <16). "Deep Are Roots," Criter'n (16). "Dr. Angelus," Phoenix (13). "Du Barry," Princess (3). "Edward My Son," Lyric (22). "Finian's Rainbow," Palace (2). "Fly Away Peter," Fortune (12). "Girl Quite," St. Martin's (10). "Here There," Palladium (30). "Life With Father," Savoy (21). "Linden Tree," Duchess (ID. "Man in Street", St. James (3). "Never Can Tell," Wynd. (4). '"Noose," Spville (19). "Off Record," Piccadilly (22). "Oklahoma!," Drury Lane (26). "One, Two, Three," Yoiks (7). "Peace In'Our Time," Aldw'h (12). "Piccadilly Hay ride," Wales (33) "Present Laughter," Haym'kt (28). "Separate Rooms," Strand' (10). ' Sweetest Lowest," Ambsss. (78). ••Together Again," Vic Palace (28). ' 'Trespass," Apollo (15). "Tuppence,'! Globe (3). "Woims View", Whitehall (26). Eire Takes Huge Bite in Taxes Dublin, Oct. 21. Within six months of hiking tax bite on cinema exhibs in Eire, Finance Minister Frank Aiken has announced his decision to take an- other bite. As from mid-January next, the tax on admissions to cine- mas in Eire will be upped very con- siderably; the last raise—the first in 10 years—only became effective in mid-August. In his Supplementary Budget, state- ment Aiken announced the raising of the present 60c. seat—the current top price in Dublin firstrun houses— to $1. This will have the effect of giving the government 60c of every dollar seat sold in the house, Exhibs are putting up a squawk through the Theatre and Cinema Assn., sending representatives to plead with Finance Dept. "officials this week. Reception.was somewhat stony but officials promised to con- sider alternative scales to be sub- mitted by the association. Spokes- men of exhibs, however, are ;not hopeful of any appreciable change in the tax scale and are already cpn- sidering what adjustments must be made in admission prices. Never before in the history of cinema entertainment has the price been as high as the 60c level and there has been an undoubted falling-, off in the number of admissions to the high-priced seats. It is difficult to tell, however, just how far the falling-off is due to the higher prices because there has been a road transport strike and virtually un- broken fine weather since the new level was introduced Aug. 15. One government spokesman, Min- ister for Industry and Commerce Sean Lemass, is being severely criti- cized for a remark in the bail (House of Representatives) for say- ing that the current level of taxation has not taken a "yard off the queues." Toronto, Oct. 28. " In the belief that the current 20% federal amusement tax on filmhouse admissions was a wartime emer- gency measure, exhibitor associa- tions have started a trans-Canada drive to have the tax elminated in the forthcoming federal budget how being prepared for announcement next March. Lead was taken at annual meeting here of.Tsotion Picture Theatres Assn. of Ontario, representing 325. chain and independent houses in this province, when a resolution to this effect was unanimously carried and then forwarded to ■ Minister of Finance D. C- Abbott. Unfortunate- ly, as pointed out by Morris Stein, Famous Players Canadian executive, there is no national association of exhibitors in Canada,, although each of the nine"provinces has its. own member group. Important meetings of these sep- arate exhibitor" associations from coast to coast are now being held on premise that the time has come to remove the 20% amusement tax and intimations were that the other eight provinces, particularly Que- bec, will swiftly fall into line with the Ontario action. In seeking elimination of this tax at the earliest possible date, the MPT AO resolution-pointed out that the wartime emergency tax was be- yond what any government could, reasonably expect Its citizens to pay in peacetime. Also that the tax was levied for the prosecuting of the war, that the national emergency has ceased to exist and present living conditions make trie tax increasingly onerous. Film entertainment, name- ly, is an essential part of the life of the people and should not be unduly restricted ' by a ; discriminatory tax which affects people in the smaller inebme brackets. N, A. Taylor, president of 20th Century Theatres, told the meeting that theatre rates for copyright music will not be increased during 1948, according to current negotia- tions with the Composers, Authors and Publishers Assn. of Canada. However, these' may be increased 400 to 500% the following year-by CAPAC. Present annual tariff gives CAPAC approximately $70,000 a year but it's pointed out that no change lias been made in rate sched- ule by CAPAC since 1936. This is also one reason for getting rid of the federal 20% amusement tax. 'BORN' OUT IN FRONT IN STOCKHOLM LEGIT Stockholm, Oct. 17. Five foreign plays are currently heading the Swedish legit season. Best b.o. success in many years is Garson Kanin's "Born Yesterday." Produced at the Nya Teatern here, it draws capacity audiences nightly. Stars of the piece are Gunn Wall- gren and Sven Lindberg, while Per- Axel Branner directed. Other plays doing well are "Lady Windermere's Fan" at the Vasa the- atre: "Playboy of the Western World" at the Royal Dramatical Theatre; "Cyrano de Bergerac" at the Oscars, and a British operetta, "Me and My Gal," at the Southern. Mex Bank Helps Pix Mexico City, Oct. 21. Pic trade got financial hypo to the tune ot $11,019,887.81 (Mex) (about $2,204,000 U.S.), this year up to Sept. 30 from its own bank, the. Banco Nacional Cinematografico. >' Government. recently reorganized it and made it a national bank. UA-Distrib Argentine * Film's World Preem In Brazil Sets Precedent World preem of the United Artists' distributed Argentine • film, "Mirad Los Lirios del Campo," held Monday (27) at Porto Alegre, Brazil, marks a precedent inasmuch as its re- portedly the first time an Argentine picture, released by an American company, has had its initial screen- ing in Brazil. Decision to open "Mirad" in Porto Alegre was a nat- ural exploitation move since the city is the birthplace and home of novelist Erico Verissimo upon whose bestseller the film.is based. . Produced by Manuel Pen'a Rodri- quez, "Mirad" is the first of five Argentine-made pictures which UA will distribute throughout Latin America. Special print of the film, with Brazilian titles, was used for the preem. Much fanfare marked the opening with Brazilian govern- ment officials, Argentine film stars and execs as well as a horde of flacks on hand for " the festivities. English translation of the Verissimo novel, incidentally, was published in the U. S. last April under the title, "Consider the Lilies of the Field." Vet Norwegian Distrib Firm Going Gut of Biz Oslo, Oct. 15. Bio-Film-Compagni, one of Nor- way's oldest distributing companies, having been founded in 1913, is dis- solving soo.n. Firm recently hand- led bookings on some six Swedish films as well as a halt dozen U. S. reissues, all produced by Sol Lesser before the war for RKO. • Bio's product in the future will be distributed by the AS Fotorama Co. and the Merkur Film Co. Fotorama, founded in 1911. is the country's oldest fllm company. Out | of business during the German oc- ' cupation. it reopened early this year. Finn represents Monogram Pictures and Swedish Europa Film.