Variety (Nov 1948)

W«dneBflay,, Novemlier 17, 1948 nicTiJiiiis s BRITISH FIX BALLOON BURSTS 4 HiM Froiit Cracks Wide Open As M Nears Decree in D J. HnMes Twentieth'^Fox is on the, verge- of inking a consent decree with the Government which would bring to an end the 10-year anti-trust ac- tion, so f ar as it is concerned. Ac^ tion by 20tli : would completely iracture the erstwhile united front of the Big Five against the divorce- ment suit which suffered its first crack vvlien RKO reached a settle- ment several weeks back. Indus- try insiders predict an early com- promise by Paramount, Metro and Warner Bros,, last three compa- nies, if the 20th compromise goes through. Separate negotiations by the company reached a culmination in New York Friday (12) when former Secretary of State James A. Byrnes and ex-judge Samuel Rosenman met with Special Ass't Attorney General Robert L. Wright and other Dept. ' of' Justice reps., Charles P. Skouras, head of Na-: tional Theatres, had come east for the meeting along with John Ber- tero, NT legal counsel, and Harry Cox, treasurer. Trio returns to the Coast Friday (19). Reportedly* 20th will he able to retain a substantial number of its ' wholly-owned - theatres under, the compromise. Partnership houses, in the maini and closed situations must be broken up. As the terms now stand, however, 20th will not follow the path of RKO in a com- plete separation of theatres from the production-distribution end of Its business. Understood that the Government Is asking for the insertion of one peculiar provision which it had .(Continued on page 18.1 British Pitch to France London, Nov. 16. ^ The-shoe is on 'the other foot. Now, instead of the U. S. producers sending delegations to Britain to revise the quota restrictions, British producers are going over to Paris to work out.a deal for film distribution in France. The British are at- tempting to up the quota min- imum of 20 filras a year prom- ised by the French authorities-. ' Three members of the Brit- ish. Film Producers .Assn.;. : counterpart of the Motion Pic- ture Assn. of America, are slated to hold early negotia- tions with the French govern- ment. Coast Red Probe May Not Be Held Washington, Nov. 16^ ; Announcement last Friday (12) by Rep. John S. Wood (D., Ga.) that he favors dropping the Holly- wood "red" probe indicated two things here: 1. There will be no early hear- ings on the West Coast, and there may never he any during the next Congress. . 2. That Wood, who will become, chairman of the House Un-Amer- ican Activities Committee, is still friendly toward the picture in- ./dustry.... ■ ■■ ■' ■ ■ It was recalled in Washington that in October, 1947, durmg the Un-American Activities hearmgs on Communism in Hollywood, .Wood stayed in the middle of,the road and also made clear that, he regarded the top figures in the industry as good, sound Americans. At one hearing he made a states ment lauding the Americanism of Louis B. Mayer, for example. As chairman of the committee, Wood will probably be able to pigeonhole, the. plans to continue the hearings ott the West Coast in January, and to keep them pigeon- holed. Even if there were a re- .bellion in his committee, which re- sulted in him being outvoted, it would be months before there would be any action. .• Almost $22m000 Coin Tied Up In 11 Backlogged Films Hollywood, Nov. Ifi. Total of $21,750,000 film coin tied up in 11 pix, finished for a- year or more, is being held up by various studios.' Delays are due to; added scenes, new titles and desire to : hold release until Dec.. 31, Academy Award deadline. Oldest is Warners' Ronald Rea- gan-Viveca Lindfors starrer. "Night; Unto Night," finished Jan. 13, 1947, I and; tradeshown Aug. 27 the same lyear. Studio then decided to hold it until Miss Lindfors could be , seen in other pix. i WB also is holding "Whiplash," completed June 2, 1947; "Decision of Christopher Blake," ended Oct. 27, 1947. Howard Hughes wound up "Vendetta'' in April and Sey- mour Nebenzal canned "Atlantis" the same month: Other wound up between February and Septembex',; 1947, include "Judge Steps Out,' NEEO FOR Ui The big British film bubble ap- pears to have all but burst. HollyW wood'is fears of a year ago that it would be forced into a worldwide duel with the British for screen dominance are rapidly fading. ; Neither as producers of films in the volume or quality sufficient to capture international markets, nor as salesmen of their product to the exhibitors of the worldr—their own country included—have the British "caught on," in the opinion of American film men. .» While Yank- execs are by no means ready to write off the Britr ish industry as a rival-—particular-, ly as long as the government cour^ tinues- intent on seeing; it suceess- ful^they are taking a much more relaxed view of the situation; There's an "I-told-you-so" tinge to their attitude that is belied by the fears, prevalent in 1947 and early 1948, of British impingement oh Yank screen dominance. There's a trace, too, in the American attitude, of pity, for there's clear realization that at I least part of the British industry's I lailure to come through; as eScr; pected is due to world conditions beyond its control. The American industry is too beset with these same difficulties not to be cog- nizant that they are proving even more deadly in their effect on a struggling rival than on the pow-i (Continued on page 21) y ustry Heads Smmnon Engineers, Economists In Search For Intensive Cost-Saving Steps At N. Y. Meets More Turkeys Chicago, Nov. 16; With Thanksgiving coming up next week, exhibitors will be ; presenting plenty . of tur- keys—but not on the screen. For theatremen reportedly are going all-out in a splurge, of free turkey and poultry nights on the eve of the holi- ;day.: ■ Thanksgiving giveaways this year will likely more than , double last year's free birds. It's ■ emphasized that most of the fowl is promoted through reciprocal tieups With local meat markets. N.Y. Tiieatres Hit City's Bid For 2% Bite On All Leases New York City authorities have ; suddenly moved to damp a 2% i sales; tax on all film and legit the- j atre leases., in an . action which i threatens to cost films and stage | many millions of dollars yearly in [ I additional levies,; Combined com-j mittee of exhibitor and legit organ- izationswas formed yesterday j (Tues.) at a protest meeting of metropolitan N. Y. theatre opieras , tors; to- battle the new. application '"•^ of the eight-year-old tax law to ' show business, RKO, Feb. 18; "Roughshody" RKO, [ condition wa.sn't strong enough to Aug. 18; "Whispering ; Smith." i withstand the rigors of the post SiPP Considered FCC'sCoyforPrez Wayne Coy, chairman of the Federal Communications Commis- sion, was interviewed in New York during'the past week as a prospect for the post of president of the Society of Independent Motion Pic- ture Producers. Committee decided after the ses.sion, on the basis of ^ what the FCC topper told, them !ers A.ssn.; Leo Brecher, chairman | about his health, that his physical Engineers and economists are be-> ing summoned by major company toppers to the current series of sessions being held in New York for the purpose of systematically applying new economies to every. branch of film, company operations. The three-days of meetings started yesterday (Tues.) with company presidents, other top executives, and Motion Picture Assn. of Amer^ ica officials in attendance. The cost-cutting devices, it was dis- closed following the. two sessions yesterday, will be applied uni- formly by all members of the MPAA so that the charge of undue slicing cannot be hurled at any one or group of companies. The action parallels that taken last year when the majors held similar meet- ings under the MPAA banner. Conferring biggies, chairmanned by MPAA prez Erie Johnston, are exhaustively examining every branch of film activity to see where the carving can bfe done. Addition- ally, possibilities of changes in op- eration,, either administrative or on the technical side, are getting' a complete canvassing. With this in mind, the confabbers have summoned several top studio technicians to amplify new tech- (Continued on i>age 20) Biz s Switch To Non-Flam Film After years Of ekperimeritation, a teehiiical revolutiori in the film industry cuts the tape this nionth when' every: major coinpany and .some minors swing into the use of Represented at the Hotel Astor j "'-'^'-ate, non-inflammable raw stock protest meeting were practically all j f"'", positive prints on one 600 houses located in the metro-1 feature apiece. An agreement with politanarea. William Brandt, part-1 Eastman Kodak for total use of ner in the Brandt circuit, presided ' acetate for a trial feature ha$ been and named his brother Harry, head j generfjlly reached, Prints are now of the Independent Theatre Own- (Contifiued ort page 21) Paramount. June 16; "My Own True Love," Aug. 25; "Red Pony," Republic. Aug. 25; "Portrait of Jenny," Sclznick, Sept. 25. KUSELL REFUSES TO 'RESIGN' AT SELZNICK Job for which Coy was inter- viewed is the one vacated by Don- ald M. Nelson last January. Nel- son resigned partially beca use ot health and was unable to be as ac- tive at all times as SIMPP mem- of the Metropolitan Theatre Own^ ers Assn. of N. Y.; Gael Sullivan, I exec director of Theatre Owners of i America, and James F. Reilly, exec secretary of the League ■ of New' York Theatres, as members of the j committee. Group of four will con-' suit witli tax experts and then pre-1 pare a brief in opposition .to the ; bers desired, so the committee wiis i move, more than normally concerned | According to oxhibs attending (Continued on page 18) . ; i ' : (Continued On page IG) [ Announcement, by the Selznick I Releasing,. Organization,; followmg | a board meeting last week, that | i general salesmanager Milton Kusell I has "resigned" was apparently pre- d: Ci._„|.. Pfr\r I In I mature. Kusell has refused to "re-i'*»^ ^larw lO rerK up National Boxoffice Survey sign" or settle, his contract and is making an appearance daily at the SHO , homeoftice. ?.act runs until next. March. Board, in a cost-saving move in line with efl'orts to cut SRO ac- tivities to a bare, minimum, since 'Road,' 'Bride,' 'JuUa,^ 'Song,' 'Hamlet,' 'Belinda' the Big Six While biz appears on upbeat it, cago. ."Babj? Smiles At Me" (20th), is not shaping up as strongly as | which comes into N. Y. Roxy next hoped for in a majority of keys week, al.so is nice in two spots this covered by Variety. Current round ' stanza but mild on Frisco hold- sees the big pictures doing sock i over. "Dear Secretary" (UA) is fine WB MAINTAINS EARLIER PAYOFF ON BANK LOANS This year's flagging business not- withstanding, Warner Bros, is maintaining its policy of retiring current bank loans before matur- ity dates. Company this week p;i'e- payed an instalment of $1,591,000 to bring down its total obligations in this bracket to $14,319,000. In- stalment was originally due Nov. 1, 1949, At the same time, WB is paying dj^idends on common stock at its scaledridown rate of 25c per share. ■Company's board at a special meet- ing last week declared the 25c diyyy payable Jan. 5 to stockhold- fers of record Dec. 3. Warner's quarterly dividend for the postwar period previous to the current year was 37^c. per share, ' it has very little product, decided ] trade but lesser ones faring rather in Chi with stage layout, to replace Kusell with his. formet I badly. ■ i "No Minor Vices" (M^G) looks in. assistant, Sidney Deneau. Kusell i jvjew leader nationwide is "Road 1 minor key in L. A. "Belle Starr's was informed of the action follow- House" (20th), which finished in ' Daughter" (20th) is fairly good in ing the meeting, it being a.ssumed ; fourth place last week. It is closely ' same city. Another newcomer, by the board that he'd settle his. followed by "'June Bride" (WB),' "Countess Monte Cri.sto" (U), looks contract. Better than $15,000 in 1 ^hich Was launched in some 13 mild L. A. entry, | salary is involved, I spots during week Third best is Reissue combo of "Last Davs i Kusell gave Sel/nick's emissary I "julia Misbehaves" (M-G) which Pompeii" (RKO) and "She" (RKO), [ a flat no. He said he'd be glad to' vvas in eighth spot last session, i still big on third N, Y. frame, in [ leave, but wanted to be paid off, in fourth slot is "Song Is Born" okay in Bo.ston and hot in Chi. j in full. Lacking that, he declared, i (RkO). boxoffice champ last round "Kiss Blood Off Hands" (U) .shapes < he'd work out the contract. Marked strength bv "Hamlet" fUt fine in Pittsburgh and stout in } is enabling this British-niade to cop ' Frisco. "Let's Live a Little" (EL) i fifth position-while "Johnny Belin- is doing a .sWeet sfessiott; in (3hi;; :' j da" is taking sijith.place money;' j■; "Northwest StampeJde'• - (EL) is ] Ace runner-up picture.'! are j hitting a good stride in Providence; i "Sealed Verdict" ; (Par), "Red . "Station West" (pKO) looks sturdy j: (UA), "Blood on Moon" in Washington jahd fine in Boston, | Eddie Silverman Into Indie Pix Production Hollywood, Nov. 16. Eddie Silverman. Chicago exhib River" partnered in Essaness theatre cir-1 (RKO) and "Apartment for Peggy" Paradme Ca.se (SRO) is hitting cult makes his production bow in'(20th). "Moon" shapes rousing in nice clip in Montreal and Denver, a deal with Frank Seltzer. Firm N. Y. and is pacing San Francisco "Red Shoes" (EL), still big in N. will be known as Essaness pictures. First, "Blood Money," is budg- eted at $500,000 With locationing in California and Nevada. No Cast with a big week. Y. and Washington, tees off this Outstanding new pictures are;i.week in Boston, "Hills of Home" "Joan of Arc'? ;(RKO) ahdy^'Snake !;^^^G). due intc) N. Y, Music Hail Pit" (20th). Former world precmed ; next, is big in Toronto, or release yfet. Joe Newman Will [in N. Y. with terrific, week. "Pit'' 1 (Cor)i?3l«te Boxoffice Reports m ] direct. 1 iooiLs smash both in N. Y. and Chi-, Pages 9-11). \: ■; .Tt'ade.. Marlr KeglstoretV , I''(JT-.M)).ilJ nV KIlfK HIIWKJIMAN I'liMlHlN'tl IVfvkly by VAKI.ETV,. Inc, . ■ Silv,tM'inan, .Pr<*,'<ltlvnt . .. 1.)^ Wfxt liUli St., .\pw YorU 1»,.N. T, llullytviiod !!A .; ;6.1i.I Vuf'ca..Kti-p6t .... ;■ .V;.. ■ MttNtlillKtOlt 4 . ISS: N'alifiunl Press BulWlngr : CUli'nifn 1 ' . SCO Mil'hiBdh AviS. ■ r.«iidnii -U'C! ■ Sl. Ma;rl)n:M .in,;' '^y«f(i||?« Sci,. , ••«Cn.SCKl»TIOX- Aniiuol $10 ITofelBn; .j., . ,Jll Hjn;fip ('o.pieH...,,,......;.,. ,.20 ;centH Vol. 172 tg^^ ' No. 11 INDEX Bills 53 Chatter 62 Disk Jockey Reviews .. 42 Film Reviews ,.. 13 House Reviews 53 Inside Legit 56 Inside Pictures 16 Intel national , 13 Legitimate , 55 Literati 61 Music 42 New Acts .. , 53 Night Cltib Review? 54 Obiluarics 63 Orchestras 42 Pictures 3 Radio 22 Radio Reviews , 34 Rccord.s 42 Frank Scully. 61 Television ,'. 27 Television Reviews ^8 Vaudeville SO (PubUshed In Hallyvtond by Dally Vatloty. t,ta.) 110 a Ytat—mt Tonlea ,