Variety (Feb 1948)

.MI«CWJi.*lW British NLP^ ISap Fib Control; Look to PubGc-Private Ownership TTcdneaday, February 4, 1948 London, Feb. 3. t? Rolling with the current trend towards nationalization, a group of Labor Members ot Parliament has drawn- up plans for control of the British film industry that provide for a mixture of public and private ownership. • Recoraimendations have been submitted to the Board o£ Trade, which will in turn hand it to a special parliamentary commitlee Investigating film distribution and fjthibition. • ' . ' Plan calls for the pooling of the big theatre circuits, involving chiefly the 440 theatres- owned by Associated British Cinemas and tlie 660 houses in the Gaumont-BritLsh and Odeon chain. The totil would be divided into four groups to be allocated be- tween private and state ownership. - Under the Wueprint, no two cir- cuits could combine in any way and there would be free cOBvpetition for the flrst showing bt any film. A cir- eiut would liave to make a bid for Its vkn filni in competition with the •other three. "Comment in the industry is that although' these new proposals con- stitute no immediate threat to pri- vate enterprise, it indicated the gov- emmenfli increasing invasion into industry. .: •' Plan is- the brainchild of Benn liCVy, Ji P. W. Mallalieu, John Kee^, W. T. Scott-Elliott «nd Meredith-Titterington. Coasters Get Oyertures Is My Face Red? Hollywood, Feb. 3, Film names no longcif accept bids to appear at public lunch- eons, dinners and benefits with- out flrst looking unde^jtoe table. By orders from'their bosses, thesps now demand a complete H-st of guest speakers, at: such affairs, lest a Cdmm^uift be lurking in the-viciniiy, ■ *• . Tel'Aviv, J$n. 27. ■ Jewish officials who will take of- fice when the division of Palestine is a peaceful' reality, are drafting elaborate plans to lure Hollywood technicians, directors, and writers to establish, a film colony. > _* A representative of the Palestine .'Manufactiirevs' Assn., J. Drouianoff, just returned 'from an investigation of U.S. industry, said such a colony would be -finahced along with a dozen other industrial projects now in • blueprint stage. Favorable American reaction to Herbert Kline's "My father's House," produced iili Palestine with local eoin, encouraged the economic plan- ners to allocate $300,000 to "study Bnd secure requirements'' for more film production., Since Jewish is understood in communities through- out the globe, the officials believe there will be ready outlets—parttctt larly in the U.S. Although the focus is on a locally controlled and owned industry, over- tures have already been made to Jack Warner, veepee in- charge of production for Warner Bros., seek- ing American location units and financial iriterest in the project <lueries for equipment on an invest- ment basis have also gone out to .Loiidon film firms. Record-Breaking '47, According toll-Mo. Tax ■ • Washington, Feb. 3. 'Another record-breaking year at the boxo(B,ce looms for 1947 on the basis of 11 months of figures in so far. Reversing the downbeat the past few months, the November ad- missions tax earnings moved sharply upward, according to the figures re-■ leased last week by the Bureau of Internal-Revenue. The 20% admissiony take durihg December hit a fine $37,785,638 for {hq nation, contrasted with .$31,091r 909 for. the previous month a.nd $35,484,436 for December, 1946. The collections generally, reflect business- of the previous month. Hence De- cember taxes refer to November turnstile'Spiiming, - About 75 ^ 80% of the tax ^s es- timated to come from films, the re- mainder- being attributed to legit, sports, dance halls, circuses, etc. The downhill trend did, however, continue for niteries. The 20% bite on tabs brought Uncle Sam $4,899,- 727, contrasted With $5,480,915 for the -same month of. the previous: year..- ■ . New York's 3rd Internal Revenue District, which includes the Broad- way sector, was very perky in No- vember on the basis of the tax fig- ures. The 20% tax on general ad- missions brought in a fat $!>^754,569k more than $300,000 above Octoher. And the nightclub tax' was a bloated $505,000, which was a gain ot $200,000. . 294th WEEK! KEN MURRAY'S "BLACKOUTS OF 1948" El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood, Cal. Watch for KEN MURRAY'S new feature lenjfth film production "BH.L AND COO" Released through Republic Pictures Gov.Fieldii^Ba&sAl 'River/ So Miss. WiU Get.iiew State Song Jackson, Miss., Feb. 3. This state's Gov. Fielding, who's not so old, didn't liice being intro- duced to the accoippanimt^t of . "Or Man Biver" a few months ago at the Governors' Conference and as a re- sult wiU soon submit a new song to the state legislature^ for okay as Mississippi's oflicial melody. It seems that at the Conferenpe the introduc- tion of each' governor was heralded by a sta.te song—"The Eyes of Texas Are Upon 'you," "Georgia On My Mind," et al. When he took' the spotlight to Jerome Kern's "River" he didn't Bke it, although the coup- ling seemed fair enough. Fielding thereafter got hold of Bob Colby and Mauri Edwards, who wrote music «nd lyric respec- tively to a new tune titled "Missis- sippi." Now the Gov. wants to have it adopted ofiCicially as the staite song. Kaye Gets Big Ovation In London Opiening London, Feb. 3. Opening a four-week engagement at the Palladium, Danny Kaye's preem performance yesterday (Mon- day) wound up in a tumultuous re- ception. During his 45-minute act, the comedian unloaded excerpts from his pictures together with some new routines which kept the audi- ence in a steady uproar. Backed by favorable press reac- tion, Ii;sgr«' has practically Sold out the house for th^ entire month. Early in March, he goes to Dublin for a benefit performance in behalf of the Dublin Hospital. Income Tax Cats Help Upper-Bracket ^Earners Washington, Feb. 3. Personal income tax cuts which .will be a real help to show biz's up- per-bracket earners are on the way, as a result of the tax bill which, the House passed by more , than 2-1 yesterday -(2K At the same time, the House served notice that there would be no reductions in the dxcise brackets —such as the 20% admis- sion -bite. While the final tax reduction is ex- pected to be somewhat smaller than the $6,500,000,000 approved by the House, the overall cut will still be 'Substantial and will probably result -In the excise brackets being frozen ~~'tit their present levels for some time -to come, in the opinion of some members of Congress. Kazan's Story Confab Elia Kazan goes to the Coast shortly for confabs about a possible picture for 20th-Fox. He'll huddle with Richard Murphy, who's been doing preliminary work on a story idea suggested by Kazan last fall. Murphy was sent east at that time by Darryl F. Zanuck. 20th-Fox pro- duction head, so Kazan could explain the bare outline of the yarn to him. Balto. to Honor Berle Baltimore, Feb. 3. .. Milton Berle will be kudo.sed by the Advertising Club here at its 40th annual banquet Saturday (7) night as the "Outstanding Radio Person- ality of 1947." Principal address will be made by Jjjyell K. Jett, for- mer chairman of the FCC and now sradio director of the Baltimore Sun's iradio and television division. !j Gov. William Preston: tane and Mayor'■ThoWas D.'Aleiandvo are also patcd iQX,-'tii% dais.' • j , Budd Schulberg's Play Hollywood. Feb. 3. Budd Schulberg has a play under-^ way which he expects to finish writing when his present chore on the screenplay of Samuel Goldwyn's "Roseanne McCoy" winds up Marph Play is concerned with New York playwrights and Hollywood. Schul berg hopes to have it^ready for fall production. FILM PLUM SOURS Hollywood, Feb. 3. Withdrawal of Jacqueline Horner from the cast of "Stage Struck" was announced by Jeffrey Bernerd, indie producer, who declared at the same time that the withdrawal was not the result of pressure from" Produc- tion Code authorities. He didn't want the 14-year old girl, he said to "sulFcr from the publicity." Bernerd explained that the role intended for Miss Horner was that of «* pianist, and not the star part. It had been arranged, he said, long before her frontpage experierices in San Francisco. ^ Parking-Space Bill Proposed in AUbany Albany, Feb. 3. All new theatres,: niteries and arenas would have to supply, off- street parking space for automobiles under a bill dropped in the hopper by State Sen. Thomas C. Desmond (R) of Newburgh. For each 10-per- sons of the total seating, capacity, a minimum of 200 sq. feet of such space would be required. New hotels and apartment houses would also be affected by the'bill. With their construction, parking space for one car would be required for every 10 individual guests or for each two apartments in the build- ing. Parking space, the bill reads, must be located on the same lot as the structure or within' 1,000 feet of it. The bill has been grooved to the Committee on Affairs ot Cities for study. Names at St. Moritz Zurich, Jan. 27. Show biz names ire rolling in for the Olympic winter games, Jan. 30- Feb. A at St. Moritz. Besides Norma Sheairer and her husband, already here sojne time,; recent arrivals in- clude Jennifer Jones, Virginia Bruce, Swedish-German star Zarah Lean-, der and her two children, and Ital- ian filmstar Clara Calamai. Olivia de Havilland, Evelyn Keyes and Favdette Goddard are due shortly; Tele-Consdons French Couturiers Gird For The Fashion Preems By XUCEXTE GABON Paris, Jan. 27. ' The world of the couture in Paris is under pressure. There are only a few more days to go before the much-awaited spring openings. -The big salons are 'filled with ladders and painters, walls are being torn down and it ,1s hard to itelieve they will be ready for next week's pre- mieres, starting Feb. 0. Publicity, ' this season, will be greater than it has ever been, now that these show? aire to be televised all over America by World Video. IHreeted by Robert Capa, films will be shot by French technicians (the sound track to be made in U. S.). John Steinbeck is writing the scripts, and one of the 10 "best-dressed- Women" in America will act "as com- mentator (who she will be has not yet been decided). Eight houses have been picked for this, which naturally caused, rivalry and a certain amount ot jealousy among those left out. Christian Dior's opening will be filmed "at home," while Pierre Bal- main's is to have liis in a Nprmandy cfiateau. Another couturier, to give it a different setting, selected a boat on the Seine river. ,As for Jacques Fath, he is hesitating between the press opening and the society open- ing in gala dress the following night, where he expects to have all the celebrities. .Madame Schiaparelli and Captain .HSotyneux %xft also on the now famous list of'eight. Every house is completely in the dark as to what is being done by its neighbor and inquisitive fashion- writers find iron curtains drawn everywhere. Inner sanctuaries where fashion is being born are well pro- tected, and all the staff including lit- tle midinettes are very loyal to their varibus establishments. However, an iron curtain is never quite closed in Paris and rumors spread easily. No Shorter Dreises Dresses will not be any shorter; there are to be even less 'inches around the waist and more inches above and below. Soft materials are out. "Dresses, now, will make a noise," said a couturier, meaning that stiffer materials will give a swishing sound. Influence of ex- istentialism will be seen in certain prints, christened "tabou prints," like the night haunt of Sartre's. Half-hats resembling those seen itt New York three years ago, perched; on the head, will come into their own again. Some' straw hats - will be trimmed with leopard skin and others .designed especially to be worn ,'With diamonds. . Dior is shipping his new dummies to America by the hundreds—his own- idea ot the perfect 1948. woman —neck slightly inclined forward, back graciously rounded and shoul- ders gently sloped. He is sending them in crates of four, six or 10 'dummies. He handles everything, including. custom duties. A great many orders come in every day and he guarantees delivery .-within six weeks anywhere in U. S. The two new sensations in per- fume are "Miss Dior" and "La Barbe a Papa." "Miss Dior" is for ladies, while Jacques Fath's "Papa's Beard" is exclusively for gentlemen. Fath, in his enthusiasm, is letting his beard grow as-an advertisement. He is due in Hollywood in April where he has signed a. contract to design clothes over a: period of time, for five films, one of them being "Mayerling.!' • SEEMARDIGRAS IKAMUS. INN.O. Hopalong's Isle Hopping Honolulu, Feb. 3. Hopalong Cassidy will get some local color when a western show produced by William Boyd opens here Feb. 14, Six performances arc scheduled before the unit moves to other Islands. Shaw Can't Act Dublin, Jan, 27, George Bernard Shaw, invited by the Actors Church Union to become a patron of the Irish branch, sent the following post- card reply: "I am not a prole.ssional actor and hardly a churchman. My shop is the Society ot Writer.s; and what I haVo't6 shaire ^for benevolence eo6s to the Ho'yal' Iflterary Fund. G. l/V ELAINE (FR£D &) BARRY KILLED IN AUTO CRASH Elaine Barry Of the headlining ballroom team of Fred and ^Elaine Barry, was killed last week near Etowah, Tenn., in an automobile crash. She and her hu.sDand, Fred Barry, were returning to their home m New "york City, when the acci- dent occurred. They were accora- pained by Max Miller, of Brooklyn. Both Barry and Miller suffered severe injuries, " The Barrys had just completed a two' weeks engagement at the Bev- erly Country Club, near New Or- leans, < New Orleans, Feb, 3, ■ This city .was expending all o£ its energy this week getting in shape " for the Annual Wfardi Gras celchra-. tion. The vyeek ot pageants gels im- deir way tofitght' with parade of mystic Krewe of Cynthius. The city's take during the IHardi Gras, it is tig,. ured, will run better than Iji3,000,000. George Schneider, general manag-" er of the Association of Commerce, said the city expects to play Itos.t to upwards of 150,000, the biggest crowd since before the war. Mayor Chop Morrison issued proc- lamation in which he urged- popu-' lace "lay aside everyday cares and problems-and take an active part in the festivities.-' Climax of festivities- is Mardi Gras Day itself, Tuesday, Feb. 10. The city-had one major concern: 'What to do .with the visi* tors who flock here,tor this . Mardi Gras, since hotel accommodations are out of question, even hotels on the Gulf Coast and' in citie's more than 80 miles "distant have been boiled solid, ■ ; The night spots see a bonanza in biz from the Mardi Gras, and the same goes for theatres and restau- rants. Nitery operators have been taking it on chin since New Year's Sugar Bowl game visitors from Tex- as and Alabama depa-rted, but com- ing week bi2 should more than bal- ance things toi: them. Mon INeu! Mon Dieu! Paris Crix Not Safe On Streets Anymore Paris, Jan. 27. There is considerable bad blood currently developing between legit critics and showmen and actors. The critics maintain that they are free to. print what they please.. Showmen :; claim that the critics are moved by personal motives and prejudices, and are anything but objective in niost cases. Personal violence and ' thr'eats of duels are resulting. During the war, Jean Marais, tired of critic Alain Lambreaux's re- marks, beat him up. Plenty trouble arose more recently from Jean Dar- cante insisting that J. .T. Gauthier, Figaro critic, take a back seat until' intermission when he arrived late at performance. Critic Roger Lan- nes got a beating from Jean Genet,*- whose "Bonnes" was playing at the Athenee;. when Lannes printed re- marks which - offended the play- wright. Quite recently there was a row between Roger Peyrefitte, author ot Prince des Neiges," at the Heber- tot, and a critic, and then Jacques Hebertot challenged the critic to « duel. Latest case, that of actoi.' Sam- son Fainsilber beating critic Jacques Lemarchand and refusing to fight a duel afterwards, has aroused the re- viewing fraternity;'At Saeha Guitry's opening of his new and generally panned "Diable Boiteux," critic Marc Becbeder, of Parisicn Libere, whistled loudly several times and when the management wanted to eject him, the critics stood up in a body and threatened to leave if he was put out, but he left. , Strangely enough, the film critic* are not getting into such frequent trouble. This does not mean that they are more specific in their re- views but merely that less attention is- paid to what they print. Bald Heads & Cocoa Nuts Tokyo, Jan. 27. Toho Entertainment Co. here is peddling 10 orchestras to occupation force clubs. Among names of the outfits are Bald Head'Swih'J Band,' Tohp Swing Ducks',' Lticll^y^ Pu^# S^irig Band' and Cocoa 'Nut^ lilandexR ' ..»<.l,Jr» Vi-i lii-'l^ kbli lit.*.'.■'*'• ■, .■•)* ••■ Reynolds Writing Radio Biog on Billy Rose Quentin Reynolds: is writing an original story, based on the career and music of Billy Rose, to be pre- sented on the full-hour "Studio One' program on CBS during the spring. Reynolds will be the narrator and the network is seeking John Gar- field to portray Rose, if and wlien "Skipper Next to God," in which the' actor is currently starring at the Playhouse, N. Y., close% by then. Reynolds has been ,huddlin(? ex- tensively with Rose on the story, which is to have a lightly humorous lapproach.It.will'tJ,ii''ihe first original Iheard'on '"StiiK^tf Oftfe" in its 10- imbhth'1hi«toty.*^'~"i'.