Variety (Dec 1948)

PICTURES Wednesday, December 15, 194ft Sdiary's Qui41-Man Dedans Save Big Coin on Metro Stories-MacKenna Return to one-man rule over 4 Metro production with the appoint- tnent of Dore Scliary has jresulted. in tremendous savings to the studio in writing costs, Kenneth Mac- Kcnna, M-G's Coast story editor, declared during his recent visit to New Yorlc. Even more important than the actual money saved, ac- cording to MacKcnna, is the en- thusiasm and excitement that has been instilled in Metro scripts by reason of the new Metro adminis- trative setup. Schary's advent at liletro has meant a return to the system that prevailed during the days of Irving Thalberg, AlacKenna explained, Metro reached the peak of its pro- :.ductive eminence under, the pro- duction topper who died in 1936. Schary,, as in the case of Thalberg, malces all the day-to-day decisions on production, with Louis B. jVlayer. .studio head, consulted only on matters of broad general policy. Between the period of Thalberg and Schary, MacKcnna said, all scripts had to be approved by a boai-d'. of studio execs. Meetings were often delayed by the neces- sity of getting the whole board together and then decisions were still further delayed by disagree- ments -among the committee memr bers. As a result, MacKenna disr closed, it often took months to get a screenplay through the necessary approval.s before it was ready to go before the cameras. Same Ole Chorus? With most editors lamenting the current dearth of screen- able material, Kenneth Mac- kenna, Metro's studid story topper declared in New York recently; "I'd say the story market this year is the worst I've ever seen it if I hfidn't been saying exactly the same thing every year for the last 12 years." Nevertheless, he said, Metro will depend on originals for only about 35-40% of its • screenplays, which is about its normal percentage. Studio will probably film three or four more properties taken off its story shelves, he added, with the rest of the program to be derived, it is hoped, from'pub*- lished materiiil and; plays. ■ Johnston Denies Red Probe Affects H'wood Slant on Production : /Washington, Dec. 14. Taking a stand somewhat con-' trary to $ome of the testimony un- folding at the Lester Gole trial on the Coast, Eric John.ston asserted last week that the Congressional probe has had no Influence on the industry and has in no way af- SG$keds26Pix Hollywood, Bee. 14. Screen; Guild's production pro-< gram for 1949 calls for 26 pictures, compared with 17 in 1948. Budg- ets, according to prexy Robert L. Lippert, will run from $75,000 to .S125,000. January starters will be "Grand Canyon"- and "Gringo," ttoth on the Republic lot. Disney Plans ITay-Dating 150 NJ. Theatres Witii B way Preem of 'Heart' Mayer 'Heads' Metro Hollywood, Dec. 14. Now one knows how to ad- dress Louis B. Mayer. He's "head" of the Metro studio. That is his official title. When asked by attorneys In the Les- ter Cole Suit against the studio in U.S. district court what he did for a living, Mayer said, "I am head of the studio." He denied having a title like "president" or "executive pro- ducer," or anything like that. , "That's my title," he Said "Head of the studio." Thus it became a "Zahtick Presen- tation,"after all, despite th*. pres- ence at the ;speaker*s table of; such expert; rival showmen as. Metro's Disadvantage that the writers | fected producUon. ] Dore Schary, Warner's Harry M., were getting paid all this time and Johnston, guest on the "Capitol I Columbia's Harry Cohen, and Par- eostihg the istudio money was only ' Gloak Room'' radio airer, rebutted I amount's Henry. Ginsberg, in addi- eccondal-y, MacKenria stated.] suggestions that the hearings held , tion to Hal Roach, Sam Goldwyn P: imc consideration was that they , in Oct., 1947, had detourcd the in- got discouraged with the delays dustry from producing any film and their enthusia,5m for a story of a controversial nature. , "You naturally cooled as time went on. ! couldn't put any lid or clamp upon; ' the artistic genius of Hollywood,'' Johnston asserted. "Tve tried to Tive Zanucks' A Wow,AsDarryl Cops Top Award Hollywood, Dec. 14. The five Zanucks. Slug it "New Acts." Quintet's been around, but this is for the record: they frac- ture the people. . ; -Layout .was unveiled last night (13), when Beverly Hills B'nai B'rith lodgemen put on a Biltmoce Bowl hoedown honoring the :2;0th- Fox production chief as ''man of tlie year" for his battle, against ignorance and intolerance^ Midway in a cavalcade of .stints by .some of the greats of show biz, Darryl Za- nucki. made his ;OAvn . one of t , toughest acts on record to follow' prexy arrived in Hollywood Mon- by introducing Virginia (Mrs.) and day aS), setting up headquarters The Three Zanuck Kids to the 1,-1 at the Biltmore hotel to await a 200 who packed the room. call to testify Johnston Next Witness In Cole-MG Suit; Court Nixes Political Probing Hollywood,-Dec: 14. Eric Johnston is expected to take the stand tomorrow (Wed.t in Lester Cole's suit against Metro for $71,550. and reinstatement as a $1,350 per week screenwriter. Mo- tion Picture Assn. of Ameriea Today's session devoted ;tt» the introduction ; of docuni0htary evidence following Cole's third day on the stand; ISIohds^^^ session ■witnessed: lots of legal: jockeying, with defense lawyers ttyiiig^ re- peatdely to inquire into the ... ... writer's political beliefs. Every ef- ' David O. Selznick, Spyros and | fort of Metro attorney Irving Charles Skouras, Joe Schcnck, ' Walker to frame questions con The scripts therefore lost spon^ taneity and excitement. Now, the M-G story ed declared, the studio is getting top screen- plays completed from start to finish in as little as 10 weeks. Writers have to get approval on their work "only from Schary and he is in the habit of giving rapid decisions. It-takes only his say-so before a screenplay goes before the lenses. Furthermore, Mac- Kenna pointed outj ; Schary is a Lieut.-Gov. Goodwin Knight of California, Eric Johnston, Ellis Ar- nali, Jean. Hershblt and Sen.-relect Clinton Anderson of New, Mexico clamp it in some other ways, but 'the former Secretary of Agricul- I couldn't even do that." ' ture. ; , ; i : Batting back queries by CBS new.smen Griffing Bancroft, Bill Schadel and George Connery, Johnston said that since the hear- ings Hollywood has continued to turn out controversy on: celluloid. As examples of this he li.sted George Jessel toastmastered the five-hour affair, which teed olT with a Fox ncwsreel, and fanfare by Jan Garber's band. Eddie Cantor em- ceed /the boffo entertainment por- tion consisting of Jimmy Durante and Eddie Jackson, Danny Kaye, "Apartment for Peggy" and "The i Danny Thomas, Dinah Shore, Dor- Boy "with Green Hair." The news-' olhy Shay, Bill Shirley, Dean Mar- cerning Cole's politics, or general outlook on life, was prevented by Judge Leon R. Yankwich. But Walker tried hard and often to bring issue of Communism into trial; Indications are that Metro lawyers are laying groundwork for possible appeal. Typical of ques- tions was, "You told Mr. Mayer tliat you had always been inter- ested in the , underprivileged." Cole's answer; was in the affirma- tive with other questions similarly framed. \ Tuesday morning que.stions fol ■♦• Radical scheme for New York exhibition of Walt Disney's forth- coming ''So Dear 'to My Heart", may be attempted by RKO. Plan is to open it day-and-date with. Broadway in 150 . houses - in; the. ^ New York metropolitan area and ; follow up with two more waves of; 150 houses each with a one-week ; period between the runs. Idea is an extension of the; policy of David O. Selznick on ■'Duel in the Sun," which preemed : dayrand-date. at the : Capitol ; on Broadway and in 53 other Loew's houscsvi Disney's' aim is partially the same as Selznick's in that the saturation preem takes better ad-; vantage of the investment in pre-. - opening advertising. Theory is that it is pointless—if . the picture is suitable for this par-: ticular type of distribution^to;; spend $50,000 or $100,000 on ad- vertising the preem and then have only 1,100 seats to fill. For the same amount of money the product; can be made available to 100,000'; patrons by the simultaneous open- ings. ;; In addition to that, of course; out of the wad spent for; advertising the Stem preem,: not enough can be' earned to give the producer much,, if 'any, projfit-; on the. engagement; Therefore, unless the expense of: the preem is charged against na-' tional advertising — which sOme' companies do—it's more profitable on; some pix to skip Broadway al-r together.; That's happened in a number of in-stances recently. It is hoped to take in an area .-i.s far north as Poughkecpsie in thei! plan. Estimates are that there ar^ 1,000-1,200 theatres in the terrir tory, . of which about 450 would be played in the three 130-house. waves. New York opening is aimed for early February following- a. . world^preem: in Indianapolis, Jan. 19. fnrmTr %^HntPt- tiimsoif whinh \ men had the obvious impression ' t>n and Jerry Lewis, and Carmen lowed Monday pattern, some being Kirs hiiraS imde S t'^^* '"''"''t^y ^ad been scared', Miranda . allowed Asked if Cole had talked gives mm an unueistanamg tnat „„„„ ^,^„„—t,.«,.„„.i„i „i„ by the I Doubtful if Jessel has ever been jover with other "unfriendly wit- greatly helps'the writers. ^ ^f^^ controversial pix i. . n .r^» , Un - American Activities Com- Enthuslasm Pays .Off; ; 1 (jiit(;ee_ Result, MacKenna asserted, has ( Johnston claimed that those of been the completion of two screen- ' the "10 unfriendly witnesses" who plays, in the short time since 1 had their contracts cancelled, lost Schary took over, in minimum time \ out because of their indictments PICKFORD-ROGERS PLAN PRpDUCM Hollywood, Dec. -'i;|. Mary Pickford and Charles _ _.. iBuddy): Rogers have set up a new Screenplays are "Scene of the ' formation, such -as press and radio. ' indie comp.iny with plans fo make at minimum cost and with which everyone at the studio is highly ■pleased because . they carry the aura of yarns done by writers who ■were;; excited and enthusiastic sbout what they were writing. for contempt of Congress, not "be- cause of; any accusations of the committee." He said films should carry a message "if the producer wishes them to," just as any other medium of communication or in> as funny. This was it, said he, this {nessies" before going to Washing- tribute to his boss. "This I have | ton, what his attitude would be, he (Continued on page 20) [replied in substance that he had in- dicated he would fight "against any Invasion of Constitutional rights;" Judge told the jury the questions were allowed to show whether or not;Cole; had done certain thihgs which classify. His cohdu<ft .a$ "lyilfull ..and . l:n t e'n^^^ «;harged in:Me<j'«i's-iette^ of suspen- sion.'- r' ,',•, ■'. .■■.'::''■■ / '■ -i,.;. ■'; Crime," completed by Charles Schnee in 10 weeks, 'and "Any Number Can Play," completed by Richard Brooks in just a slightly longer period. ': MacKenna also disclosed that Schary has been combing the Metro story department shelves with the result that a half-dozen, properties long owned ■ by the' studio are now in preparation for the cameiMS. They arc "The For- syte Saga," the .Fohn GaI.?worthy novel which has never been filmed; "'Robinson Crusoe," the Daniel : Krfoe. classic previously : made in He denied that the present three films in Italy. Couple U. S. Attv. Asks Delay economy wave in Hollywood was ■ hntched the idea during their trip in any way connected with a fear , ab'oad last year and will sail again of the competition of video. ' Europe the first week in January, leaving for New York the; Show People Report On D. C. Segregation Washington, Dec. 14. Number of show business people I were - included on the National Committee on Segregation in the day; after Christmas. Initial pic, to be a documentary, will be made with frozen eoin.held in Italy by United Artists, inwhich Miss Pick- ford partners with Charles Chaplin; i pohemcnt in filing his briefs. Fcrruccio Caramelli, prexy of Hitz requested until Jan. 17 to In 'Unfriendly 10' Case -Washington, Dec. 14i U. S. Attorney William Hitz, Who is prosecuting the contempt- of-Congress cases against the "10 unfriendly ■witnesses,'' has asked the court of Appeals for a post- the ' Italian Artists A.ssn;, • planed from Rome, yesterday (Mon.) for much worse than it had-been half 1C28; "Roberta"" the Jerome Kern a century before. Report.poinied musical which liKO filmed in 1935; ' among other things, that "On the Town," the .A.dolph Green- j Negroes were no longer admitted Betty Comdcn musical of a few I to the city's downtown theatres al- years ago; "Quo Vadis." which will I though they used to be admitted, be remade illicie have been three , Among those on the committee nation's capital which reported last i llollywood, meanwhile, to confab week that D; C; segreghtion was with them on the ffims. He'll be ' associated with the productions on an arrangement similar to the one he had with Edward Small's Italian production of "Black Magic." Zee French, Zey Are Tres file his answer to John Howard Lawson's appeal brief, and until Jan. .24 to answer the brief of Dal- ton Trumboi . These are the two test ca.ses. The'Hollywoodcrs were both convicted in U. S. district court for their refusal to tell the House Un-American Activities Committee whether ;:they were members of the Communist party. They are: appealing; Press of. other previpus versions) in Italy, and vhich miulo the report were actors ; Funny, CommC I^S Yanks i j^^^'-^..^^"^'^, c,' a novel ' Melvyn Douglas and Jose Ferrer, I nis rea.son lor asKint, iiic cxiension "RUntiing of the Tide Which M-G acquired about years ago. SIX 1 author Dorothy Canfield Fisher,; I actress Helen Hayes, and Raymond ■ Grani" Swing, radio commentator, j Paris,;; Dec, : 14 ,; Crew of Fianchot Tone-Irving Allen's ".Man in the Eiffel Tower" was sitting at lunch in a cafe near i the studio and, in the manner of Appoints hrank rreeman t^e other diners understood . . Hollywood. Dec. 14. their English. They were joking . t 1 ,,- . • . ' Lecnl\outs. producer-ro- about the fact that the picture was r-.- . . Amusement and alliect inciustrios , ordinator ol indu.stryVs public rela- being shot ofl the cuff, with the i is bringing in an outsider as dis- Mayor O'Dwyer Sparks HOG Charity Pledges! of time for an additional month. Jack Ellis Exits UA Jack Ellis. Metropolitan district manager and New York branch manager for United Artists, has turned in his resignation from both; po.:'.';. effective Dec. 31. Company, testimonial luncheon for Mayor'tions films sponsored by Academy script being written as the camera- Wiliiam ODwyer held yesterday of Motion Picture Arts and work progressed, (Tues.) at the Hotel A.stor. N, Y. Sciences,. announced appointment I Suddenly from a nearbv table resulted m a collection of $140,000 of Y. Frank Freeman as chairman ertw of the French film, "Hans, Ic pledged by individuals fol- the of production advisory committee. Marin," shooting at the same Federation of .lewish Philanthro-■ He also njnncd five new members, studio! chimed in tliat the Ameri- pies' 1948 camp,)ign. , George Murjihy. Valentine Davies, can method was just slightly more lliz/oner was presented with a Richard Murphy, Jack Hlvely and ad\anced than theirs. They de- humidor by Helen Ha.\es. Chair- Gunther Lessing. clared they had no script at all, man of tlie iiineiion was Fred, Committee meets Dec. 22 to re-' but wailed until the picture was Schwartz, Century Theatres vee-,view five industry pix already, finished shooting and then wrote §ee, while Ben Lazarus headed the made and to drjift plans for seven the script. In that way there was usidessmen'S'division. Attendance more, i no waste footage. trict manager and will shift Abe Dickstein from the h.o. to liead up the branch. Ellis expects to announce new plans within a few days. He took over as branch manager in 1943 and as district topper in 1946, when Sam Lefkowitz left UA to go to Warner-Bros. District com- prises New York. Albany and Buf- falo. Dickstein is now assistant to Edward Schnitzer, eastern division manager. / N. Y. to L. A. Dana Andrews . :~ Steve Broidy Mac Donald Carey : ■ Scott Dunlap Arthur Freed Hans Habe Dick Haymes . George A.iHickey Arthur Hornblow, Jr. Robert Hutton Eric Johnston , John Joseph Rudolph Mate Louis B. Mayer Gar Moore Ray Morgan Chester Morris Paul Perez Henry C. Potter Jimmy Sarno Howard Strickling Lew Wasserman George White Cornel Wilde L. A. to N. Y. Niven Busch Gladys Cooper. ; George Cukor John Emery John Garfield Katharine Hepburn Nat Holt Deborah Kerr Edith King Dorothy Miles Ji'm Murray Marvin H. Schenck Lizabeth Scott Maxwell Shane Jerry Thomas Spencer Tracy Walter Wanger Major Albert Warner; Kathleen Winsor Teresa Wright Max Youngstein N. Y. to Europe Richaj'd Aldrich Victor De Sabata Florence Desmond Patricia Hicks Fanny Holtzmann Gil Mason Abraham Polon.sky : Europe to N. Y. Jean Pierre AumoHt Monty Banks Sue Carol Robert Casadeseus Billy De Wolfe Grade Fields Cynda Glenn F. T. Harley Gene Kelly Alan Ladd Maria Monlez Raymond Morgan • ■ Artur Rodzinski Al Wilde