Variety (Feb 1948)

60 ■JEGimilA'VB Wednesday^ Febraary 4, 1948 Tel Aviv Getting Perl^; Asch's WMt! Itice s 'Scene' Open Tel Aviv, Jan. 27. ^ There's been considerable legit •ctlvity here lately. Habimah's latest •production, at the Habimah theatre, is Sholem Asch's "fCiddish Hashem." The Worlters' Theatre staged Elmer Rice's "Street Scene" at the Ohel. The dramatization of the Asch novel by Anatol Stern is episodic and jerlcy, with a certain mechanical and stilted quality to the performance. Bertonoff, as the ubiquitous tailor, gives the most convincing perform- ance. Gnessin, as an pld rabbi, and H. Randier, as the Polish nurse, are notable^ The Ohel's presentation is marred by distortions in setting and cos- tuming. But the play manages to retain its tenseness and its humanity as melodrama. H. Sanlsovsky, as Rose; Leah Deganit, as Ann Maur- rant, and S- Zephoval, as the hus- bandi give competent, sympathetic portrayals. ' Pftlestine will get qpera- again after'a year's layoff. Rehearsals of Auber's "Fra Diavolo" Tiave started here, with an opening due next month, .Next opera will be d'Al- bert'* "Tiefland," with Rose' Pauly, former Met singer now. living in Jerusalem, as producer. Oscar Straus' "Waltz Dream" is also due for presentation. .Qeorg^ Singer and OtfoXustig are tlte conductorSi: Upbeat B continued from, page 4( sssliisss $18,360 gross, then added the four^ day mark to His string with $21,962 . . . Stanley Greaves, formerly with Majestifc Records, started , his own pressing plant at Union, N, J., un- der Bon Gray Manufacturing Corp. title. Hollywood Stan Kenton orchestra playing concerts at Lancaster, Pa., March ll; Harrisburg, 12; Detroit, 20; Lansing, Akron, Ohio, 24 . . . Louis Jorr dan combo will start fortnight stand at San Francisco's Golden Gate the- atre Feb. 18 at flat $5,000 Weekly. Jordan will relight stage of Million Dollar, here, March 27 week on 50-50 split of gross deal . . . Hal Derwin orchestra played Trianon ballroom last Saturday (31) and Casino Gar- dens Ballroom this Saturday (7). Metro Expects Continued from page^ 5 ; : Moskowitz added, however, that the mvings may be "much more" than tiie $6,000,000 reported. Rubihy emphasizing; that the pri- mary problem at present is not dy^indliiig' receipts but upped prO' duction costs, declared'* Metro has already gone a long way towards trimming costs through the various econonlies. Some of the benefits will be felt this year, he said, but their "full effect" will not be evidenced until 1949. He-went on to outline the problems- involved in- production, Silacing particular stress on the bighly-eompetitiye. market for good story properties^ which lta$ boosted ihie price to ft new high:- Rubin expressed hope for' an early modification of the British. 75% tax, basing his optimism 'on reports that British exhibitors have already voiced complaints to their govern- ment, He didn't mention how much of a backlog of new pictures Metro still has; in England but declared the company >:i£i still dei^iving income from its reissues. Detailing the anti- trust suit how peiiding before the Supreme Court, Rubin' declared Metro would be able to operate "successfully under the decree as it now stands." He reported that M-G-M Records, which had been operating in the red during its formative months last year, had now "crossed the line and is operating profitably." Metro, he said, does not yet feel the time is ripe for the company to enter tele vision but a well-informed commit- tee; of top execs is keeping P fully ^«,ware developments in the me- 'dium. - Rubin agreed to submit to the board the request of a stockholder fhAt the company: use its large sur- plus to buy company stdck on .the open market, to boost its current market rate of 17% up to the book value of $28. Moskowitz pointed out, however, that most of this money would be needed to buy out theatre holdings in case the Court insisted on divorcement in the decree. Metro took options on an additional $15,000,000 in bankloahs last year, despite the fact the money was not needed immediately, as a stopgap fund for buying theatres, Moskowitz said. Under the decree as it now stands the majors will be forced to give up all theatres in which they own less than 95% and more than 51%. It's to- buy out those minority interests that Loew's is stacking'up its re- serve fund. Pittsburgh Whitey Scarbo, ex-Mark Lane trumpet, now has his own four-piece outfit at Delmar Canoe Clubi a char- tered spot, in East Liberty . . . Piccolo Pete's band has switched to Blue Ridge'Inn, succeeding Nelson Armstrong orch, after more than a year at Johnny Brown's Club . Three Blue Dots and singer Richard Cs^nnon into Mercur's Music Bar with pianist Roy Branker holding over ... Baron Elliott's WCAE orch into Colonial for two week-ends, with Brad Hunt following him. Chicago Chicago, Feb. 3. As an introduction to their new tune^ "Twelve O'clock Flight,'' Eddie I^bbard, disk jockey, and mestro Jose Melis will fly over Chicago at midnight next week and drop card board platters of the song ; i . Ted Travers joined Duchess MUsic- and Bill Powdefly is back with South- ern . . . WJJD began-a series of hot jazz concert broadcasts Sunday (1) from the Bee Hive, featuring Doc Evan's Dixieland group . . After a year at Melody Mill Ballroom, here, George Winslow band yfill shift to the Prom Ballroom, St. Paul,' Feb. 22 ..'.' Associated Booking has sighed Myra Taylor, Mercury disk artist, tO an exclusive contract . . . King Cole Trio set for two weeks at the Oriental theatre, Feb. 26 . . . Murray Arnold band into Schroeder hotel, Milwaukee,'March 30 . . . Clyde Mc- Coy into Orpheum theatre, Omaha, March 5, and four-weeks at Muehle bach hotel, Kansas City, March 31 ... Jimmy Palmer closes the La- Martinique and' bows ' at Claridge hotel, Memphis,-Feb. 20 . . . Chuck Cavallo orchestra now at the La- Salle hotel . . . Freddie Nagel in town 'for series of p.a.'s at record shops . ; . Johnnie Bothwell, cur- re/itly at the Blue Note with small combination, has left GAC in favor of Associated Booking. Meanwhile, he's building up his orchestra and will take a large band on the road within a month ... John Kirby fol- lows Freddie Slack into the Sher- man hotel show, Feb, 13, for four weeks . . . After a year's absence from recording. Rose Marie's first platter, "Chidabee" for Mercury, will be released Feb. 15 . . . Johnny "Scat" Davis opens Feb. 13 at the Club Holiday,, Springfield, Illinois. indi* operations that it broke an inflexible rule in an effort to bring the" Disney product utider its wing. It offered to pay Disney whatever his pictures earned abroad, rather than compensate him on the alloca- tion basis the Export Assn. ordi- narily useSi MPEA members, re- gardless of how many of theiir pix are distributed abroad or how well they do there, are paid off in ration to their U. S. grosses the previous year.: Disney turned down the MPEA's offer. Indies maintain that- the allocation system is unfair, since their top-, grade- pictures are used , by the ' MPEA to peddle its lesser product. In addition, in the case of Disney, it's said the overseas value of the films is greater in proportion than their domestic value. They also have a flock of other arguments, such as, arbitrary booking' practices by the MPEA. « Mulvey' has pointed out, for in- stance, that in Holland, where there's a 25-week allocation to American pix, ''Best Years of Our Lives" may play five weeks. If it were in the hands of the MPEA it would probably run only two weeks, he said, because of the necessity of playing off other companies' pit>duct. MPEA members are faced with, another headache in August^ when the contracts of a nnmber of United Artists' Indies expire: /Most of them, h^ ve no intention of continuing with the MPEA on pix which the outfit hasn't started into distribution by that time.' They intend to .go but and sell on their own. This'could so dilute the quantity of dollars available and flood markets with so many U. S. films that drastic steps by the MPEA may-: be necessary Government could be - called upon to strengthen its system 'of export controls on the basis that the dump ing is inimical -to^best political in- terests of the country. Heineman Continued from page 5 , Plays Abroad Continued from page 58 ; Alt Over Town the glut of U. S. films with similar background, A young airman returns to his civilian job as reporter on a. weekly paper, His boss sticks to the old routine and the youth is on the verge, of pulling out, marrying the-girl who has subbed'for him during'the war years, and trying his luck in Fleet Street. The old man dies suddenly, the son offers him a partnership and control of the paper. Then the fun begins, with the ex- aviator-pursuing his own, policies, to strange results. Good cast 'of ' character' actors, headed; by a young newcomer, Peter Neili as the stormy petrel; Rosalyn Boulter, charming as the sweetheart, and Peter Scott, fresh as a cub re- porter. ' Other roles; are all well handled; , ■ • Glem. L'litvltatlon An Chateau ('Invitation to the Castle') Paris, Jan, 1, Andre Bnrancq and Cumptiny doa Quutr« Saisons producUon of five-act comedy by Jean Anouilh, Directed by Jean Barsacq. Background muafc by Francljsr PouIenc. At- AteUer, Paris. : Horace..... .Michel Bouquet Josue, Maltre d'HoteI.,...;.H«nry-GauItler Frederic. iMIohel Bouquet 3^iana Hesser^climann ..*..,. Kdlth "ViBnaud Patrice Bombelles- • > ••. • ■ ;]>taurice= Merio Lady Dorotliee India,......Katherlne.Kath Madame Desmermotea.-...Betty Daussmond Mademoieeile Capulat..;.'.'.Marcelle Arnold Romainvlile. ..i. ...v .Marcel Feres MesacrsclimanQ','., ... .Itobert -Vattler La Mere.... . ... ..Madeleine GeoKruy Isabclle. ^.... j....., .l>any Bobin alistic description of Russian society at the turn of the century in all its decay. However, Gorki doesn't offer any solution or any bright prospects for the future except for a few lines read by . Rachel. The Schauspielhaus performers do an excellent job. Therese Giehse in the title role, is at her very best. Others who stand out are Leonard Steckel, as her scoundrel brother, and Marie Becker, as the revolutionary Rachel. Piece was staged by young Claude Maritz, who jreviously bad directed Jean Coc- teau's "The Eagle Has Two Heads." .Mezo.. I*e .Proees («,TIie Lawsuit*') Paris, Jan. I. Simonne 'Volterra, Jcun Iiouta Barrault and Madeleine Renaud production ot play in two acts by Andre Oide and Jean Loula Barrault; From Kntlca'a novel, translated- by A. Vlalatte. Sets and coatumes by Felix Lablaae.- Baclcground mualc by J. Kosma and B. Boulez. At Theatre Marigny, Paris.' Joaevh K......... .....Jpan-Louia Barrault Inspecteur Franz,.,. ...Albert Medina Inapecteur Wllhem.......',;.. .bene Arrleu Madame Qrubach.i....Catherine Fofitoney Le Brigadier..................Beauchamp Lfi Directeur-Adjolnt.,.,. .Oabrlel Cattand MaderaolseUe Burstncr........Bleonore Hirt La Bourretlu.....v............ Jean Julllard La Laveuse.. .Marle^Helene DaBte L'Btudtant,..., ..Jean-Pierre Oranvat L^Hulsaier..., Regis Outin ' La Jeunfe F1I16.Simone Valel* Le Prepose aux Benjelgnements. Bernard .Sheran dropped its staff of special ^les- reps for the British product. Heineman's switch has : the ap- approval both of U and Rank. -He remains as a member of the board of directors of the Rank organization in the U. S. His contract with U had another three years to run. It's likely he's gotten better terms from EL in a new longterm employment pact. Assmnption of the post by Heine- man is the windup of a long shop- ping prowl by EL for a top industry man to take over direction of sales. At one time a deal was almost closed with Tom Connors, former distribu- tion chief of 20th-Fox, but it fell through on the question of com- pensation. Since Heineman is an old hand with Rank's product, it's expected that his appointment wiU spell an even closer tieup.of El^ to Hie Brit- ish film-maker. EL now has an agreement with Rank under which it distributes six-to-eight British pix yearly. Mabley's Pair Edward Mabley, co-author with Leonard Mins of last season's "Tem- per the Wind," has virtually com- pleted a new play, "All About Love," a comedy. He also has another new play, '-Black Sheep," but will re- write it before letting anyone see i,t. Brandt & Brandt, which agented "Temper the Wind," will handle the!ture new scripts. I MPEA was so disturbed about the MPEA Snarl Continued from page 5 si sion head, reportedly squawked at a recent Export meeting in consider- able pique, following his return from' Scfindinavia: "How can I make deals wten the independents are continu- ally underselling us?" Mulvey's Admission James A. Mulvey, Goldwyn prexy, on whom quite a bit of the wrath focussed at last week's meeting, ad- mitted that the indies had sold in jsome countries at flat fees below what they might have expected if they played percentage. His attitude is, however, that with the uncertain state of the world and foreign ex- change, it is clearly more profitable for indies to take less coin—but have it in a U. S. bank—than wait for more money in an indeterminate fu- McDowell Continued flOw page 5 | Escapist story''of 1900 era, and verging on farce at times, looks an unquestionable hit. Jean Anouilh has forsaken all seriousness in his theme this .time. Possibly only one scene implies any philosophical meaning, that when the millionaire and the girl join in tearing up sheafs of banknotes. The story revolves about the like- ness of twins, though they are of widely different dispositions. One is shy while his brother is daring. Plot concerns the strong brother managing to have the shy one break his unfortunate engagement to the daughter of a financier by making her jealOus of another girl. The play is written so it frequently turns into a series of comedy sketches, such as the • extremely funny one between the aunt, done by Befty Daussmond, 'and her lady's companion, Marcelle Arnold. Also the one between Arnold and an old friend of hers, Madeleine Geoffrey, mother of the yoimg ballet dancer hired for the evening. Still another shows Katherine Kath, the financier's mistress, in word battle with his secretary, Maurice Meric. Dany Robin is the girl who's hired for the evening who -goes on to win the shy boy. She is extremely sweet. Edith 'Vignaud, as the financier's daughter, has a role where her pulchritude is a big asset. Robert vattier is the financier who believes everything can be bought. Michel Bouquet, who does both twins, handles the dual role ex- tremely well, showing contrast in easy fashion. Costumes,are nice. Francis Poulenc has written an effective score that backgrounds many scenes. What distinguishes the play is the treatment which is entirely different from the usual French light comedy, This makes it worth considering for a screen oddity and for stage adapta- tions abroad, provided they" refiect' the original's easy unfolding. It will pack them in a long time at the Atelier. Maxi. motion picture industry to heel,' ta 'slant future pictures' and a dozen other .things. As a member of the Committee this silly talk makes me chuckle. "A tiny handful of gloomy-minded Commies and a larger bucket-full of foggy-minded, self-proclaimed 'lib- erals' are taking, the entire amuse- ment industry for an intellectual ride. The C o ra m i 11 e e has not the faintest interest in what pictures are produced or who produces them, The committee has no concern at all about who acts, writes, directs, builds, works, owns or profits from pictures so long as they are not enemies of the U. S. "The committee, it must be em- phasized, has no interest in the so- cial aspect of the screen or .the publishing industry, so long as those aspects are not treasonable nor Sedi- tious. The Committee presumes that, like all other Americans, the vast majority of figures in the amuse- ment world are average, patriotic citizens, and it is my belief that the amusement world made as magnifi- cent a contribution to the nation's victory in the war as did any other phase of American life." Referring to the hearings last fall, he declared that the "unfriendly witnesses" has made attempts to confu.se the issue with racial and religious statements. Wassa Sehelesnowa Ztirich, Jan. 1. Schauspielhaus production of drama In Ihree acta by Maxim Oorlci. German Iranulatlon by Use Bohrend. Stri-Ked by I'laudo Maritz. Scenery, Teo Otto, At Bchauspielhaua, Zurich. Wassa Schelesnowa. Therese Qiehac tier Husband,..,...... Herman Wlach Prochor .Leonard Stetliel t^atalja. ....Axnea Finic LudmiUa. .Margaret Lend! tlachel.. ......at......... .Maria Becker Secretary,...........,...Irene Na«{ Melniltow.... Arttiin Schwelzer Eugene , ,....> . .., .Fred Tanner flurli Sapfter..Elrwin Parlcer Lisa..,.. Klisabeth Mueller Polja.... Regine Lutz Pitjotkin. i .auatav Knuth Play by Maxim Gorki, wr,itten in 1910 and rewritten by the author some 25 years later, "Wassa Scheles- nowa" has just received.its first per formance in German at the Scha-a- spielhaus, Zurich. Translation of Use Behrend is skilfully done, ably cap turing the flavor of the original. Play is the story of a woman in pre-revolution Russia obsessed with money and power. Wassa • doesn't hesitate to drive her husband to suicide to prevent him from causing a scandal. She keeps her little grandchild away from his parents to tutor him as her successor. Wassa's brother, Prochor, is the brute type. He's a constant drinker and a man devoid of scruples. Third important role is that of Rachel Wassa's daughter-in-law. The sole person who stands above all this selfishness, she represents the "new idea.s" of a social world. There Isn't much "story" or action in this play, but it is a correct, re- The play is not the thing here be- cause there is practically no story.' It's merely, a rendition of the de'- pressing atmosphere of the novel ; which shows the farc<e of justice and how the judiciary can crush an in- nocent man and drive him crazy. But with the inspiring acting of Jean Louis Barrault, supported by b JBne cast, the peculiar way. it* is staged (remindful of the late Pitoeff for the settings), and the unerring direc- tion by Barrault, it becomes top- drawer theatre. As sudh it is adapt- able for the foreign stage, but is a doubtful screen bet. Writer Andre Gide, who just re- ceived the Nobel Prize, wrote the lines at the request of Barrault. Barrault's part in the writing con- sisted mostly of cutting the novel into scenes, which his considerable stage experience permitted him to do to best advantage. Barrault is first introduced as a bank manager who is dressing to go to work when he is interrupted by two detectives who tell him he is under arrest for some crime which they calmly explain they know noth- ing about; lEnsuing scenes revolve about courts and lawyers, to point up fallacies in judicial proceedings, Barrault's performance is top<^ notch. He is on stage from begin- ning to end and leads the whole show much as a musical conductor leads an opera, Special honors also go to Marie-Helene Daste, as the lewd woman; Madeleine Renaud, as the lawyer's servant; Albert Medina, who does a detective in one act and the lawyer's client in the other; and Rene Arrieu, as the other callous detective. Georges LeRoy, as the uncle,, is excellent, and Beauchamp is okay as the laywer. Regis Outin is effective as the preaching chap- lain. • « Mmei. L'Emper'enr dc Chine ('Emperor of China') Paris, Jan. 1. Marcel Herrand and Jean Marchat pro- duction of comedy In two act.s, four scenes, by Jean Pierre Aumont. Stars Aumont. Directed by Marcel Herrand. Set by Made- leine Caatalng. At Mathurlns, Paris. .Tean Benaudj...>,,....J«an Pi«i're Aumont Christiane,......,.,.,....^....,Nadiii» Alari Madeleine Benott Benoit,...ToIftnde Laffon Victor Benolt Benolt........Roh«l-t Araoux Paulette .,...CatheNne. Sensui^ Toto Lcacure............... .{Michel Auolair Exemplary acting by the whole cast and many funny lines which don't preclude a little sentiment in the last scene are the assets which may give this initial play by Jean Pierre Aumont a chance. Plot is highly implausible but the laughs are real. ' Writer Aumont has done a play about the disintegration due to war years, showing a young man attempt- ing to live his own life as he yearns to have.it. In each sketah he plays a different character. This inakes him a constitutional liar and a rather shady customer. Actor-writer Aumont plays the distinguished young crook with a tinguished young crook with a smoothness which is exemplary. He makes him nearly plausible. The boss, done by Robert ArnouX, is the sly crook who is , proud of his •bhievementS. Nadine Alari does his romantic daughter who falls for the first young crook she meets. Her mother is played amusingly by 'Volande Laffon. Catherine Seneur is very good as the mistress. Michel Auclair has the minor role of Aumont's friend. , As a writer, Aumont has injected plenty of amusing lines into the cur- rent lack of honesty in business and, looseness in private life. Marcel Herrand, has directed capably es- pecially the more humorous episodes. mam, . ■