Variety (Nov 1948)

18 PI€T1JBES Wedndsda^, November 17, 194S Eastman May Join Consent Parade; Votes Neat Diwy ASCAP ' Continued from pice I i Circuit Court of Apt)eals fdi* a stay vvith the butcoine ill doubt, Bavrefl fi*bm. collecting liceitse fees- ttbtiti. |,theatres, It must 4so pay Witliin •10 days all sUijiis reiCeived by it from the: exhib-plaintiffs during tlie - ii(r,ci,;n«tnn ic period following March 15,'48. On TT -cf r«,^?.~.-cSlhat date, ASCAP stipulated that First break m the Government s ,( ^ received frora the plaintiffs ^T^n^f T'."in"iLfn. S;.^™.t,''F^'^ *>« held iU eSCPOW S kidak is einected to e ' ■''"^ ^''^ Pl^'n"^''' ^» t"™' <1™PP^<* ?akc>„ S a pre-trial hearing [n Los, ;:PP»«««on for a temporary in- Angeles Monday (22), at ^vhich While the present injunction is limited to collection of theatre *u A^tr^A^^t-^ ,.«-^,.,i..f. Ices, some industry attorneys be " lieve the, very existence of the or- time it's reported that Eastman will seek torbreak away as one oi « separate consent decree. Suit was brought by the Dept. of .lustice agamst the'two firms .several years' ago on charges thai Teclmi controls a monopoly on the making of color films. East- man was brought into the case as manufacturer of all Techni raw stocft.: Suit has lain dormant,;how- ganization' is threatened > by the suit. On this scOre, it's noted, the society has - been labelled an "illegalcombination." As such, it is argued tliat the group is in-an in- defensible position if radio net' works,' restaurants, or any other fee-paying individual or concern vcr, with the L. A. hearings „e>£t! challenges it in the courts. week marking the first' real prog- ress towards settlement. A group such as ASQi^P its pre- ferred by the hetworKsi antf: 'pth#js because it affords an easy channel ■ '■'-^i . i-, . 1 for clearing; performance rights. Stock-Cash Divvys However, any one disgruntled in- Rochester, Nov. 16. dividual could put the society in Holding the line on cash divi-, jeopardy by legal action. The dends due to requirements for ] individuals can upset the system capital expansion, Eastman Ko-1 for an entire industry, it is now dak's board of directors today de- j argued. clared a stock dividend on the i Spotlighting the drastic form outstanding 12,380,065 shares at [that the injunction has taken is the rate of one share for each 20 i one provision which bars ASCAP held, payable Jan. 22 to stock-, f^m hereafter obtaining any mo- holders of record Dec. 24 Board , tion picture performing rights on also declared a cash dividend ot I music from its own members. 50c. a share on the common stock i Hence, while the court has refused for the quarter and the regular | jo o^der divorcement of these <;n'^'^^"*l °" P^^ei^ed stock frights now in ASCAP's hands it has of ,$1.50 per share. ■ (stopped ; future assignments by Cash dividends on common stock I ,|)(;„^l,eris ■ total $1.60 this year equaUing the i other Injunctions melon sliced in 1947. In addition, Additionally, ASCAP is forth- the board awarded a record-brealc- enjoined from enforcing per- l.'JI ^^^^L^^''}^^^^, nt^" formance rights against exhibs TEXAS VARIETY CLUBS FETE O'DONNEL, DEC. 4 Dallas, JNfov. 16. Texas exhibitors and other show biz toppers from coast to coast will help R. J, O'Dbnnell celebrate nearly a- quarter of a ■ century in show business. The national chief barker pf Variety Clubs International will be guest, of honor at a testimonial ban- quet, given' by the Texas Variety Clubs Dec. 4, Among those who have already accepted invitations to attend - are- Bob -Hope and Ex^ Gov. Harold G. Hoffman of New Jersey. O'Donnell is a native of Chi- cago, where he started his show business career as a theatre usher. He later spent some years in New York in various theatrical capaci- ties. But since lie came to Texas 25 years ago, he has become the Film Reviews Contlnueil irom- pace 13 j The Mozart Slory Soldier," the flhn is considerably forts. Its dialog Is in English, the than the stage version, Cel- American production firm haVing .™«d'"m h dubbed complete translation of ^ap ured the salty^^^^^^^ original German speech for release I Pol'^ii port Gdynia where a in the U. S. Unfortunately, though, i Swedish captain is at his wit's end "Mozart Story" appears to have a limited American market. Film also is too leisurely in pace. Dialog suffered in the transla- tion; it is well spoken by uncred- ited American voices, verbiage ber ing often stilted and too ■ often not tryittg to decide whether 6t ridt to sail fpr Spain, Avith a muiiitiona iSandwichefl lit the s to r y are; ieveral murders whlclj take place' hear the sordid \iraterfront< ■ ;:' ..16 ..i.e.. a.iiicv.. Thesping is well done by a long • in keeping witli the plot develop- topped by .idolf Jahr, whose ment. The additional footage in- Portrait of the .captain is very tended to explain more fully why Mozart's genius was so little appre- ciated in his lifetime not only runs too long but looks like the padding that it is, portrait of the .captain is very realistic. George Fant turns in a striking portrayal as a -sailor.' Also excellent is Danish actress Ilona Wieselmann as the German rtfu- gee. Incidentally, this marks het HanV Holt brings surprising , debut in a Swedish film,' rnVt^'^rdP^TPxin Tn^rVp^riin^: vigcv to the Mozart character,!, Hampe Faustman's direction filur/on thp TPxr/thltrP^ ~ Wnnie Mftx-kus suffices as | »tf . thmgs movmg at a .switt figure on the Texas theatre scene. , ^jg ^ife, Irene von Moverdorff is I P«c? i"? t'»is Rune Waldecrantz V V Pi-.„p'mr=.ii,« nj„«.r '^^^y ^s the gal who ditches Mo- pr<"'ncUon. Screenplay of Herbert N. 1. PLiiie to Dallas Dinner . ^gj-t for an operatic career. He- Variety Club members in New 1 mainder of cast is passable. York - area and elsewhere in the east expect to charter a DC-6. air^ liner to take them to the testi- monial' dinner for Bob O'Donnell of Interstate Theatres to be held in Dallas Dec. 4, Arrangements for the plane arc being made through $13,000,000 for 51,500 employees in all of the company's operations. Last year, $11,600,000 was divided amopg 49,300 employees. Metro's Ceiling Continned from page 7 distribs or producers so long as it continues "as an illegal combina- tion." Both ASCAP and Its mem- bers are i-estrained -from-. demand- ing or agreeing with producers as a condition for granting synchro- nization rights that the right to ex- hibit the film be limited to theatres having an ASCAP license. ■ Big 4 Cracks Continued from pace 3- , The musical excerpts fi-dhi "Magic Flute," ''Abduction from Seraglid.'' :'The Re(iuiem,'' "'Mar-" riage of Figaro," and "Don Gio- vanni" providis some brighter mo' ments,, AU this is bacjtgroundied by _ the Vienna Philharmonic Orches- Chick Lewis in cooperation with i tra, and aided by the Vienna State the Dallas Banquet Committee. I Opera. All of the singing is in Ger- The DC-6 will leave N. Y. the i'ri-' and, oddly enough, does not day preceding the dinner and re- ' seem incongruous with ' the cast turns Sunday, Dec. 5. , spouting English dialog. This version of Mozart's life em-, , - . DhaSizes the h.innipi' na««9ir<><! hfc PinelU; camera. Friti.Wodltzka. At Apol- f oiriv wsEi, .passages, his lo, viehna. Running time. IBO SUNS.^ I early death . being Overshadowed i her* by the politico feud and his yen for his early swfeetheart. Story has Blozart forced to turn out Grevenius is a fine bit of script- ing. Winq, Imminent Exit Contikiued (Foiii page 7 ; Little Melody from Vienna ("Kleine Melodie aus Wien") (AUSTRIAN) Vienna, Oct. 26. .Fi'ltt Erban release o( Excelsior Fibn production.' Stara Paul HocrbiKcr, Maria Andcrgasti features Annie Rosar, Fritx Imhoff, Fritz Lehmann. TheodoF - Danes* geri Herta Dolezel. Directed by E, w;' Erao Sereenplay, Emo and Fran/ Tasiilc,' from story by Fritz Koaelka and Lillian' Belmont: music, Robert Stolz: lyrics. Aldo ning to wonder whether it's worth the chance. . The "semi-independent'' deal has characterized Phase II of the great surge to : indie production that resulted from the capital gains urge at the close of the war. Phase I was the advent on a large scale of the fully-rindependent producer, who provided all of bis own coin and kepi all tlie profits, paying out only a fee for distribution of his picture. The hazards of a declin- ing domestic boxoffice and disap- pearing overseas market soon ■ "Little Melody Frohi VijBnna is , a richly entertaining picture which "Clemency of Titus," a fiifl opera ' rises well above the quality of re- in 18 days, this effort leading to his early demise. Wear. Malacarne ("For the Love of Mariastella") (ITALIAN) _ Veauvio mm release of Sicilian Films Organization production. Feature* Mariel- nirJ'^^ii' iPHl", 7^"=i', Amedco Naz/ari. Directed by Natale Dl Cristiha. .Screen- play. Ovtdio Imara; atory. Zucca Mercantl; camera, Giuseppe La Torre. Previewed N. X„ Oct a, '48. Runuirig time, cent Austrian product. Aided by the fine score of Robert Stolzj the film should register at the b o. in the local market and is a likely prospect for U. S. art house audi-, ences. Script displays a strong sense of humor and clear conception of dramatic housing: problems In un- folding a touching tale' of a war widow who lost her home: Hous* ing office assigns her to two rooms MarUrteila .... Marieiia Lotti t in the house of a professor. An^ oteUo Toai noyed because he must share his Rais* t?o ■ An«<l«" Naz«ri „. „ «ais I'letro Giovanni Grn7«"« I ^^'^ unpleasant made the sources of financing du- ^in th* Hunchbacit Umberto SpaK toward the new occupant until he bious for this type setup and the ; Ho?o"hno indie started to become, in the past Don Popo year, a rare bird. ' Second Phase It was tlien that the second phase started. Many top name players, directors and producers were unable to provide their own financing, but were likewise un- clared., "Only one or two of these crop up each year," I Nonetheless, he said, the Com-[ pany has no intention of abandon-; ing the project. Explaining why! Metro had dropped Louis deRoche-I , ,„^ :'jj,.„„„..;. _ ^„„„,, . mont's producUon of "Lost Bound-| aries," which depicts how a Negro ' .«> ^"Tc'^i^^L^ nn .r!^« i Jnt crosses the color line 'i-^'"^' c»iH i Piwision is a ban on cross-licens- the film finally. was $l,300i000 and that too high for the "While we have not fixed a ceiling I .. . ■ m,. n. . u .ji r, , . ,. . - - „ - ,. „ , --■ „„v„i,.., on the cost of those specialized majors. The other half | had by digging up their own coin, a native fisherman—one against a films we realize thev have only a ' w**"^'' 8° '"^'^ exhibs in towns i but it did give them a chance at a ' nionster, and the other a futile, limited market and must be kept, compete with affil- capital gains claim when the tax ^o'^a"?/'?. Ody.ssey — the picture's falls in love >vith her. Maria Andergast wins sympathy- as the pretty widow while Paul Hoerbiger stands out as the prof. Balance of the cast is adequate. Stolz's title nuinber Is a lilting ,, , tune, as are his "Violet Blue" and (In Italian; English Titles) | "Three Brownles."- While the Sicilian-made film I Fritz Woditzke capably handled Malacarne," undoubtedly is tech-, the lensing. Production values are ' " ■ -'aiulnrd. MmSs. Margherita Nicosia ... Carletto Canncn Rosctta Roiniino .The Poor Woman; j ,: : . Piera Paci Th." T^X'S"'"" Ciov.nVl Baia.-d ami fi. J'u'!?,^' c ■ ■ • • •„ t-'irino and the Utile Simonelio, same autonomy they might have i t'own to stress the twin battles of WB's Profit Continued from page i down," ■ Metro is planning no radical^ change in. the genre of pix which !!\, , , ,„„ . , , . .,, it will make next year, Schary nght and 102 in partnership with added. Asked whether the com- •'"'""'^ interests. Negotiations iates. NT, wholly-owned subsid of; a owns some 334 houses out- r 75% or 80? up with a gross of $39,565,000 for the same three months. According to the present finan- collectOr catwe around; That means ^^PlPJtational possibilities would 25% tax: instead of p0s.sibly a ?,! greatly enhanced. However, Jn % or 80% nick. • ; "^W-it;will find i^^^^^^ , . The studios originally liked f'^''?"?^'^ to find piaffing time even i^^^'"^^^''-fty^¥'^f^^^^^^^ these deals because they thus w .^,^6; houses mth gatroh-- f?''^ the rest of the mdustry;f,Thf ■ ^ '"-'e. , : gross of all seven majors is ex- Technicolor musicals he answered- : own initiative without the knowl- I available. Also, some- lot, ...r-h aJ:^'^ a small Sicilian Pected to show up with a 10% drop "Certainly, they're ' still making 1 ^^ge of the other majors. Para ,. . , . ^ ^ , ^, . ^«......... „..«u.-,u « sea monster- money " mount previously attempted a this kind of setup—or at least one has driven the tuna awav Production topper saw "Bov With separate settlement but was unable ; m which they could put up part of , Tosi lurns in the bcsl pVrform- Green Hair" on the Coast beforer to coi-ne to an agreement with the ' the hnancmg—because they insist- ance. Thesping of other players is I pany will continue making" costiV ' ''•'s said, were conducted on 20ttfs I access to names not " otherwise :ii.-..i *t.- I available. Also, some'lots, such ctraining east. Despite reports , Government, that the pic would be revised under ■ Ifoward Hughes" s u p e r vi s i o n,; Schary declared: "They haven't I changed a single thing in the film." For this reason, he said, he per-i initted; his name to be used as pro- ducer.. ■ Theatres' Streneth ClO-AFL Battle i Continued from page 5 0 SAG-Reagah Continued from page T i are ordered. The next meigt before I the NLRB is set for Monday (22). I SOPEG and the Screen Public- lists Guild; meanwhile, are hitting 1 back at the companies' riefusal to (renew their contracts With con-. I tinuation:' of picket: lines before; recorded | Broadway theatres. A national ' "Don't Go to ■ the Movies Day" is slated to come off tomorrow (Thur.s.). The most recent film tar- stein monster just as music has done for musicians. Treasurer's report, read by Paul Harvey in the absence of George CJiandler, showed a net surplus of, gt-tted by the unions is 20th-Fox's !S585,952, but declared the Guild "The Snake Pit" at the Rivoli, will meet heavy expenses in or- where the unions have been con- ganizing the television field. i centrating. Union circulars distrib- Reagan in a formal report, rie- 'vied to passersby read; "Don't Go ed on having a piece of the film, generally mediocre. Direction is i Remarkably strong showing by Ihey eon!,idored it unprofitable to often faulty. Camerawork gets in Warners in the gross revenue take on a straight indie for a dis- |pme nice seascapes on occasion. ' column is again telling the story of tribution fee. Now Col is one of *^"ni is bound to experience diflfi-1 theatre strength during Ihe year the lots which is giving most , C"'ty with both goxernmental as posed against continued weakness thought to ending this type of ar- '^^f",^"'Clement, i n the production-distribution rangement. , I JJouenias English titles are ade- ' ■■ - ..■f - Result will probably be a grad- ' ^"''te. ual return over the next few years to the old-fashioned; plan of Con- tract producers accounting for virtually all of the Hollywood output. f roiiiinaniie llaniii (Strange Harbor) (SWEDISH) Stockliolm, Oct. 27. ;S_andrcyv-Bauman-Film release of nunc branch of the industry, fiscal pun- dits believe. Affiliated theatre chains are reporting a boxoffice dip which ranges between 10%and i 20% while profits have declined some 25%. Distrib losses, on the other hand, swing between 60% SIMPP Considered Continued from page 3 r— |fuTes's1.1l'M;&^^ Theatre biz has gotten its lift, ' ^SSiu S?^'?, Wo'ms'iom, Carl Strom. Di-' according to one affiliate circuit ' at^r'^^Ssf'STSi, ^^rT& f«ster changeoff of seph K,ieiigrcni camera, caiie Ediundi h'ju- i Programs duWrtg the cUrrent year; remarks on his physical fef- '^^^^A-^rZr^'^f^ Ux bill before Congress which know because we are in it," ■ Would disallow deduction of w<ird- i . , .Lot:a" robes purchased by actors for film,aimed io reveal SOPEG's alleged liani Levy* Coi-oign sales head for Masthuggct Gutlcn «. x^„.„w V'^^. Coy consisted of Grad sew.ra „. Ake'^md^J grosses which^^W^^^ vealed the Guild was opposing a m. 'The Snake Pit'is terrible. We >9«'-s/rez Secld^l^^io ' ■.•V.V.. Go\Vr.UiK ^'iPPin^ because we are in it" JJJsney. pie/, ot Walt Disney Pro- fnst onwnecr c.m .sn-om .have been maintainpri hv c^nrfino .arii-63 u« ^"th tactics ^"^ill^rrofr^'''V'"f^^ ^Vlfi^ ^.liTE ^heshZil^^ i io reveal SOPEG's alleged t^':!r?'„?.!'^^.:!.>J^_?'-°''V*-'^'?"-^;.Wil- c;hrjsu^„^, , ■';:^'u.,»;5?i; Practice, hoWn^^^^^ ■^dX^ '^^^^ ^"^^ With the resultant dive. .. ,iGeors: Skarstcdt 'U net profits of the sales depart- that would discriminate against ac- take over jurisdiction of the home- i ^5dd'lv'^PnnNffl,"n,'p m'^i^.^M^l," ' -' , ^"^'"^"^ ments. The faster releasing sched- tors. office field since the whitecollarites j cov's nam" Ttn iifp'^i?MPp" ' With an «rm..-.m«,„,n„« , "l^s caused -by the slide in ex- Reagan said SAG is ready to join were oi-ganized about seven AVith producers in "sound program ago. One of the chief levers of advertising and public relations'' current drive is. the power c. mt; iiu-i m-ii me ni- wonin - - «- f> ;>"i- u • « * - - designed to get customers into the- parent union, International Alli- continue lor the next four vp- '"'"'^ '®n<^-'' itself naturally pusiness. While Hollywood is turn- atres, adding that, if necessary, the ance of Theatrical Stage Em- ' with a "right euv" chairman for exploitation and looms as a '"S out films cheaper than last Guild Will "build a bonfire under ployees. which already controls .since stepping into r bm^^^ s»rofire gro,s,ser in .Sweden, Over- fear, the^ n^^^ the producers lo get them moving" (he niajor sectors of organized film (here's little question but that Co; Base 1 h'e lo°en"h kV balancTne IhP^lfrnT'?^ °* 1' ' ' " »ff -i^h the radio industrj^ , grei^^%LV'^''L';;k';,or'''swS SS'MLKoXST work. Guild is also opposing tax ,'clo.se tieup with the Communi.st; tj. ■ , „ . provision in foreign tax treaties party, is making its biggest bid to I g^"^^.' counsel l?om the Coast ' ToivS""'"'^ ..Oildly enough, the projection of |