Variety (Nov 1948)

t Bt. lUrtla't riitf«, TfufnIgM tjqmira INTHtlVATIOIirAL IS Indie Nstribs Stance on French Treaty Likely to Cause Mad Scramble New Franco-American f i 1 agreement, which limits any single U. S. distributor's export to France to 11 pictures a year, will eventu- ally resolve itself into a mad scramble among the smaller com- panies, such as Republic jind Mon- ogram, to sew up French distrib rights for American major product. That's the opinion of indie film pro- ducers, who regard the agreement as only a method seized' on by the majors to beat them out. in cora- petition for the French market. Under the plan, the total U. S. British Prods.-Exhibs To Renew Rental Talks London, Kov. 2. | jekleading pro^^^^ have feeeh j nominated by the British Flim- Producers Assrii to participate in renewed talks on rentals with the Cittcmatoferaph Ekhlbitprs Assnv delegsition,; heftdedi by ^Jl Arthuir Hank, his top aide jdhlti Davis, Sir; ,Henry French, prez of the BFPA, export to France IS limited to 121 Siv Arthur Jarratt, represent- films yearly, which has been broken I ing Sir Alexander Korda, also in- down to 11 films for each of the 10 | Qiudes a number of indie film- distrib outfits and 11 for the com-' makers. bined indie producers. Now that, Several preliminary meetings Straus' Zurich Preem V London, Nov. 2. Oscar Straus has left for Zurich, where he'll conduct the premiere of his new operetta, "Die Musik Kommt" ("Here Comes the Waltz'*) at the Opera House, Nov, 6. Straus was guest conductor with the London Symphony Orchestra at Empress Hall, here, Oct. 17, to draw a ■ capacity crowd of. 10,000, and score a rousing raccesi. - Hmgar^Fib Brazil's Ceilii^i on Fiim Rmtak Irks U. S. Distribs, Who Fear Spread ''t ActioD of the Brazilian gorem* A • r I •! w " v ment last week in clamping a ceil* AnSSie ExIUDS^ irying lO I'^S Amencan aim rentes may turn out to be the most disastroui Niv Rvilieli llt^ fliiAla! re.st'riction yet placed on U. S. di9- IIU DlillMl IJ/o yUWWitributors abroad. That's the alarm- ed reaction of top industry official!, who point out that Brazil's arbi- trary ceiling for the first time im- poses a limit on the amount of money that American, pictures can Brisbane, Oct. 27. Queensland 'ei^hibitors will ap- peal shortly to have the 15% com- pulsory screening of British plx nixed. If they succeed, understand'J . ing is that exhibs throughout the learn at A :£oragn bfeSaBfEiw^ Aussie zone will ask for similar; as a result of opposition to th* - ■! ^ , i. i i i:; , new Brazil.arrangement.; higmb^ri Mi«onty of exhibs feel tha t of the ■ Motlon^^^^^^^^ BriUsh pix should npw be allowed j,^^- ^^^^^^ to stand on their own boxofTice nj,^ ^^^^ ^j^^ gy^ject coming Washington, Nov. 2. feet without benefit of quota., „ ^ j„ ^ j^jp^.^ meet Nationalizaiion-of the Hungarian -^."^^^^^^^^^^^ ^ff i ^.f^.^ week^or^next. thrsmalfer companies, which had i amon'g'Tlie commVtTee'Wmbrrs'ls ' ^ picture industry has been JIf pix actually contraSed'W. This I ^ p^*^*^^^^^ never released_more than five or ' anticipated to determine final, pol- virtually completed with the ere-. gives British pix easy sledding with Lj gyj^j^g^^g casting about for ^'T^u V'"' Ithey get together with ation of three government cor-'th e 15% compulsory screening , j ^j^i^, '^^^^i^ ^ ^ U^y,^ need 11, they'll be making all sorts | the CEA 'of deals with the majors for the balance of their quotas. Majors, of^ course, will snare a majority of the earnings .on such films, which mean$ they'll actually be releasing more than their «uota of 11. Indies, while deciding. to go along with the plan as the only way left open to them, continue to re- gard it as extremely unnecessary. Already-established boxoHice quota in France, which guarantees French pictures five out of each 13 weeks' playing time, was sufficient to pro- tect the French industry, they be- lieve. That: set up a 40% quota for the French, which is comparable to the British 45% quota. And if that was enough for the British, the indies aver, why the need for the French to, impose the numeric cal restrictions? Rank Referring Denham Strike of 1,700 Workers To Govt. Arbitration London/Nov. 2. ; order. British pix in , I may follow Brazil's lead. Past recent months i g^^^^g already proved that porations to handle production,, distribution and exhibition. ' i , _ - i. . . , , , ^.v....t, Maevar Filevarto Nv (Huncarian "u^"- sliPPinB badly here, y^^^ j^^^^ ^ mushrooming Magyar rugyario wv munganan ^ai^jy because of poor story ma- « j u j „„ „_„ -tv,-" Motion Picture Manufacturing Na- terial featuring heavy drama. ^^'^ ^''^ ^'^^ tional Enterprise) has been ere- i . ■ ■ ■ ; ated to produce. Magyar Film-' .-^ , , p /i forgalmi Nv (Hungarian Film gugleS llOtS iSOOr teUSOr Failing to .settle a strike of puzemi Nv has been developed to 1,700 workers at his Denham! operate build and use theatres, studio, J. Arthur Bank has referred | Revamp - of the industry has the dispute through the medium \ three goals, according to Nathan Trading) is set up for distribu-, .. » -y tl&me^f iT Mo°.U- Reception in Aussie Due To Profanity, But Biz Boff Sydney, Oct. 27. Action of the police in tempo- effect: And, bad as are the other restrictive measures now 'in fore* against U.S. films in foreign conn- tries, if other governments also de- cide . to put a; lid on .rentals, tha ■ American : industry wiU be'in : ■ worse position abroad than ever, according to the film {Spokesmen. New deal was set with Brazil last week by Gerald Mayer, head of the Motion Picture Assn. of America'! Industry of the British Film Producers, D. Golden, of Dept. of Commerce, rarily closing a production of '"if5/itJ"'"^„ L"-/! Assn. to the Labor Mmlstry forll. To step up share of home-made | Sumner Locke-Elliott's army life ^h?L ^^^«^rt arbitration. Producer took this pix from the present 10% to play, "Rusty Bugles," for use of rL""„„^7r ** „„ ^.m4*+»V.L ^ h...i5% for features and 20-25% for Allegedly blasphemou. and ob- X't olLinKX bfame o^ documentaries in the next year. ■ scene words proved • wonderful ™m ^esb?te the^ffi 2. To build about 800 new thea- b o. stimulant. Presented by Doris ^^^P^*^ tres, particularly in farm centers, I Fitton at her Independent theatre,' Slncis the action wa« step When' an all-day meeting Jbe tween the Qenham management and the :anployes ended in a stale- mate. ' However, a move to extend the walkout to Rank's Pinewood Thusreverihough the French ilot vj?^ adjourned until tomorrow agreement was set up by the | French and IT. S. governments, the Indies believe it was Instigated by the major companies, i Indies are now trying to devise some plan that will give them what they con^ Eider a fairer break in France.. Italian Talent Agency Setup in Sharp Need Of strike was touched off when the management handed layoff notices to some 92 employes. Their fellow workers then quit In a move to force withdrawal of the. pink slips. Cordon of 100 pickets is scrutizing plant gates without disorder as both company and municipal police look on. Reports that the walkout is spreading to the studios of Sir Alexander Korda are unfounded and have been officially, denied. MeanVi'hile, the, Denham man' in the next few years. 3. To step North Sydney, the show is. now up weekly attendance from the doing boff business and deals are r^^rSL ^•^'^•^ way. to .have it done in out"^ m^^ ^awrbt;*'deS okayed by the State Dept., they believe Mayer was forced into it ai a last resort after his attempts t« 1,500,000. COLOR PIX VIA NORMAL CAMERA, BRITISH CLAIM London, Oct. 26. ivruiauucs uit umj V../H1VX "»-'--■ ,,,,__,„_ 4<>(K, . In pffppt i>nn. revolutionary color film sys- retary Jim Baddeley after dele-, ^eaueltlv the u' S dfstribs now -revolutionary because a nor- j tion of the "offending" lines. Bad-j^^^""/' "i^J^ ."- J^'f^ w^^rt camera is used-is claimed by deley has the authorUy to nix any- ,'^^„y^„«^X^^ tl^an in anyS J. .Taylor, m_anagmg director, thmg his of fleers report as unfit „„.,„t^_ ^.v. -o ouota set other Aussie cities. . „Jhad been snafued. Oc?^ll'""Bug es'' ran ?nto'ce^so , BraziUan action seU a limit of t°oubL' next Tveni'ng when police , ^% ^entaU tor any America^^^^^^^ S t^ SS^'r'esulSe'd ^^tr-^^^^^^ 0}^^^^^^^^^^ formances on okay by Chief Sec- sold at lower terms m order ti» A , I I* If • 1 weaiiwiiiie, . uie, x/cuuiiiu ultiii-1 ana cnairman ot Haaiant r UVernaUlinS, nVPOing agement l? meeting privately prior i Ltd. Commercial tieups are >s i -n to resuming talks with the work- in the ofting. Rome, Oct. 19. Talent agency setup in Italy, as and chairman of Radiant Films, - for the public now i "Bugles" is set in ordnanbe calmp In northern Aiis country. Even with no quota set on A .ibcio °" the number of pictures that can an AUi.wfc imported, they are arbitrarily restricted as to the amount of . f^nX.T'^L^^J^l Taylor has been approached by tralia^during .the past war Play —^ thel^^ product ""earn of Theatre & Kincraatograph Era-; a number of film combines and well as in the rest of continental "'■V; ""^?^^^^ i.umue. oi mm comoines ano Fin-nnp nppd« ovprhaiilin" and ^ •'^ '• , • ?f t^°., ""^"^"^' satisfactory tests have already been l^urope, needs overndUima ana u,„ons involved in the strike, ad- comnleted Several second-feature much development.^ With forei^ Uised its members to return to 'fi^tre .lowTc^L^rod.:.^^^^^^^^ may be okay for the U, S. and within the country. London censors permitting. How- ever, its language is plenty strong. film production still on the 10-^^;]; posts"h.;mcdiai;iyrbui- iis thrsyTtem"7nd't?t''and'T^^^^^^^ ^olnt'ed oi^%iat"wh^1he^'OlS, AuStrfa tO Swap Eight nesf avafirwe fo^agen^^^ both' • • ^''^ P''^^^"' Vic Co. performed "Richard III" With . . I films are at present being exhibit » cu.,..n,^n — stoppage beginning, ed, all of which have been proc- here there was no objection to its talent and technical Situation so Friday (29), shooting on three | essed by the Radiantcolour Lab- pungent dialog, far has aemonstrated serious lack fi,n,s ^t Denham has been halted, oratories ui x^u , k of skilled agents who can supply pictures are "The Cardboard' actors, costumes, props, scenery, Cavaller," vith Margaret Lock-' etc. Big agencies here are non- ^.^q^ and Sid Field; "Adam and existent Evelyn," with Stewart Granger There are a few lone-wolf op- and Jean Smimons, and "Trottie i Pix for 32 German Ones In New Exchange Pact The Vienna, Oct. 19. Austro-German . film ex- 'Bngles' OfTered Broadway ! Sumner Locke-Elliott stated in RltCcA Pllfei>1l !h Pnlanil I New York Monday (1),"I am com-, , ■ . a * nitaaC 1 Ul9tll 111 1 UldllU I pietely innocent of writing an ob- j change agreement was signed Oct, Full-month ban on all imported ! scene or indecent play." Everyone 16 at Bad Reichenall, near tht ■ . . .. . . . .. Austro-German border. It provides for Austria to send eight pix t» Bizonia, iti exchange for i32 Ger- erators with sidewalk offices, but ^ True," starring Jean Kent. Labor, films, Including those emanating knows, he said, that Australian they weren't prepared to cope i difficulty not only is costing Rank I from Hollywood, has been imposed soldiers used .words like "bastard" with an mflux of American and i $20,000 dMly. but is suppressing his j by the: Polish go^V^^ . - . English production companies. Nor | production at a time when he's ing to field reports received by the ' are in the play to conform with i man ones. Twelve other Austrian did they have the, know-how to redoubling his efforts to turn out | Motion Picture Export Assn. For-, the characters. Furthermore, he' pix will be exported to Germany, deal with foreigners or get them a maximum amount of pix for the, eign pix have been ordered off the , says, three of the most successful • outside the agreement, what they wanted. The few agents British market | screen to clear the way for a "So- plays on Broadway. "Streetcar," , Some disappointment is felt that here who have worked with film ; viet Film Festival." The ban was "Respectful Prostitute" and "Mis- the exchange rate between Aus- coinpanies have an unsayot? local, njfv > |>| mma n imposed Oct. 7 but only disclosed i ter Roberts" contain phrases trian schillings and Deutsche marks reputation, and the flexible laws Ol^AlIl WlAl KCUl EH U. O. ' now. I worse than those of "Rusty' was set at one to one, instead of governing agency contracts have lunAnT AIirOTIAU ' During the period, theatres in i Bugles," yet the New York police , two schillings for one mark, as had nA ImlvKl yULjIlUWlkey clUes and large provincial haven't interfered. . been anticipated. ■ towns are playing 6nly Russian and ' Producer Doris Fitlnn's organi- Germany was represented by lzation, i:^cke-EUiott noted, is a Erich Pomm^^ permitted all kinds of shady deal- Cineguild in Final Split Madrid. Nov. 2. _ , . Ministry is likely to reopen the i"-^ question of importation of Amerir can pix product which has been temporarily suspended due to a feud, of two ministry officials. Un less import licenses are immediate ly restored the Spanish film indus- Current London Shows London, Oct. 26. Breakup of the original Cine guild team, begun when Anthony , try would collapse since theatre Havelock-Allan formed his own grosses depend considerably upon production outfit last year, has now American pix. been made complete by . the , : Domestic film production has also withdrawal of Ronald Neame, who been caught in the squeeze inas- haa sold his holdings back to the | much as local filmmaking is con- company and is to start his own tingent upon financing that's producing outfit. ! derived from the sale of import Unlike Havelock-Allan, whose permits Latter is equivalent to a break from Cineguild to start Con-, state subsidy. Country brought in stellation Films led to his depai- some 200 U. S. pictures in the year ture from the Rank group. Neame ending Aug. 31. intends that his new outfit, which . —_——. Ealing s Aussie Spread Sydney, Oct. 27. On a deal just consummated >vill be known tis Ronald Neame Productions, should continue un- ' der the Rank banner. First production of the new company will be "Golden Sala- ^^ith" Greater uAion, Ealing moves mander," which will go on loca- rT to.„Ti,.,„„j „t„riir.c hirp tn pon- tion in North AMca bifore shoot- p^o'uctit' Brhish ?mit sminf""*" P^'^ew""* "^^wTspend $100,000 on new equip-, [ment. First i% a comedy due next , lyear with Chips Rafierty and Tomr i Norton V. Ritchey, Monogram's foreign chief, is now in Copen- '"^,^"""^5, iiagen. and due back in 17, S. mid Two to three pix are planned for (Figures show weeks of run) London, Oct. 26. "A La Carte," Savoy (20t. "Anna Lucasta," Majesty (i>3i. "Annie Get Gun," Col's m (74) "Bless the Bride," Adclphi (80i. "Bob's Your Uncle," Sav. (26). "Browniue," Phoenix (8<. "Cage Peacock," Strand f30). "Carrls.'sima,'V Palace (34). "Chiltren Hundreds," Vaude (62). "Don't Listen," St. Jas. i9>. "Eden End," Duchess (9). "Edward My Son." Lyric (75). "Four, Five, Six," York (4). "Glaconda Smile," Wynd. (21). "Happiest Days," Apollo (32). "Kid From Strat," Princes (5). "Littie Lambs," Ambass. (30). "Medea." Globe (5*. "Off Record," Piccadilly (701. "Oklahoma!" Drury Lane (79). "Perfect Woman," Playhouse (8i "Rain on Just," Aid. (9K "Saloon Bar," Garrick (5i. "Stariiffht Roof," Hipp. (52), "Travelers Joy," Crit, (221. group similar to that of the Pro- man ISB film branch, and Kurt , vincetown Playhouse. He hadn't, Oertel, of the German film produc- I considered "Bugles" for Broad- ' ers association. Robert Steyskal of j way, he said, feeling that the plot the Trade Ministry, and Frits was basically too Australian for Rrban, of the Actors Union, rejh An American audience. Now, how- resented Austria. i ever;. in the wake . of .newspaper publicity in Sydney he intends to place it on the market. Author; who has been in the U. S. for sev- eral Tnonths, is writing scripts for radio and recently sold another play, "Wicked Is the Vine," to the Kraft Television Theatre. November. 11949. $2,400,000 Annual Gross For U. S. Fifans in Panama Washington. Nov. 2. ^ American films are grossing . :■■ ■ ■ ■ 'about $2,400,000 annually in the I $70,000 Peak Italo Wage Republic of Panama, of which j Rome Oct 26 ; about $1,440,000 comes back to this 1 Anna Magnani, star of both. cototty;Ji^^^^^ "Open City" and "Paisan," has reports mhatt D. OoJdeniChie^^ signed a one-picture deal. with t?e j»»o"?>i P^£^^^ Roberto Rossellini which will give ' S. .Dept., of Commerce. Hflw- ;her the biggest chunk of coin • ever ,jdUf to. the unfavora^^^^^^ ■ ever paid an Italian performer for nomid sitMatmn in the^country^^ 1 appearing in an Italian-language, theatres havp. recently suffered .^^ ' film. Star is being paid $70,000 sharp decline biz.^compared with : (in lira I for the stint ^ ^ ' ; the early months of this year, j Italian pix generally do not exr Chief competitiba. for O^S,; fi^ J eeed $150,000 for their entire comes frcrni Mexicii and Aifgentth*, I budget. Rossellini is director but each of lyhich sUppUes about 10% _ . 'not producer of the lite which re- of the pictures shown, and Britain. "Toeether Again," Vic, Pal. (82i, volves around Monte Carlo as the'which provides 595) of the total "Worms View," Whitehall 179). i scene of action.' i product.