Variety (Mar 1949)

16 INTERNATIONAL 'TABIRTI'S' LONDON OFFICE • St. MHrlln'i Flucc, XrafalsKr thtam* Argentine Film Prod. Goes Into High As Govt. Lifts Wraps on Rawstock Buenos Aires, M<arch 18. Pall of gloom which had settled over the film production industry Js lifting somewhat with raw film this week included anniong essential imports which have fixed priorities. At the new Mapol studios, work Is already under way on "The Avengers" which John Auer is di- recting for Republic, with Alan Cui-tis, John Carroll, Mona Maris, and a mixed cast of players who know both English and Spanish. Arturo de Cordova has inked a deal with Bolivar Films, a mixed Argentine - Venezuelan production setup, to make "Las Lanzas Colo* iradas" ("The Red Spears"), a historical opus, in Venezuela, with- Argentina director Carlos Hugo Christensen handling. Actress Su- Sana Freyre (Mrs. Christensen) is to be teamed with de Cordova. Carlos Borcosque has been busy shooting scenes in Buenos Aires streets for "Calls Arriba" ("Up Street"), which he is directing for San Miguel and Emelco jointly, with Italian actor Amadeo Nazzari and. Malisa Zini. The raw stock shortage at San Miguel Studios, which folded some weeks ago, has held up the start on "Los Isleros" ("The Islanders"), which Demare was to direct for that out ■.fit'.' Currency Reform Causes Berlin Film B.C. Nick Berlin, March 23. A drop in business at film houses i here is expected for the next two weeks due to a currency reform, the fourth in seven months, which ended thie two^coin b.6. setup. As of March 21, only legal tender al- lowed in the three western sectors of Berlin will be the Westmark. Russian money was accepted be- fore. It is felt that business will pick up in about two weeks, when b.o^ take should level off approximate- ly 20% lower than when both cur- rencies were in use. Paris Opens Door Paris, March 29. , Another avenue toward a partial remittance thaw for American dis- , tributors opejied this week when I the Ministry of Economy okayed I part payment of certain merchan- I di.se from frozen film accounts, j Decree states that exports to the IU. S. of perfumes, gloves, silks and cottons may be paid by 65% dollars and 35% from blocked film funds. Felix, Moctezuma Win Mex Oscars Mexico City, March 29. Maria^ B^lix was Oscared as the Lucas i top actress in Mexican pix in 1948 -1 by the Mexican Academy of Cine- I matographie Arts and Sciences at Cinematografica Independencia j Is to make a film Version of "The! Eerez Garcia Family," a popular i radio feature which ran for nine i years on Radio El Mundo (spon-1 sored by Sterling Products), and] scripted by Oscar Luis )VIassa,! former program director of the : Mundo web. A number of well-1 known radio personalities are to; have star parts. | Alberto de Zavalia, Delia Garces ; and tango composer Marianito j Mores are planning collaborating I in the production of pix, in addi-1 tion to embarking together in i legit. Garces and Mores produc-j tion of last year's hit musical at big fiesta (25) at El Patio nitery here. Miss Felix is currently in N. Y. on p.a.'s. Several pix critics disagree with Miss Felix's award and pan the Academy for its selec- tion. Mi.ss Felix won on her work in "Rio Escondido" ("Hidden River'O. That pic won six other Oscars. Carlos Lopez Moctezuma was ac- claimed the year's best actor. Emilio Fernandez was hailed the best director. Gabriel Figueroa won as cameraman. Both have been previously Oscared several times. Their 1948 selection was for their work on "Escondido." Femanderand Mauricio Magdaleno Marcella's Other Self," top legit i wn .«>e best scriPtlpB ^ith "Es^ - ■- ' . ^ 'condido. ' Francisco Dominguez won the year's best musical score with "Escondido." Film, too, was Oscared as the best Mexican pic of 1948. Victor Parra was named the best supporting actor; and Columbia Do- minguez best supporting actress. Alejandro Galindo was cited for the best adaptation.' Arturo Soto Rangel was chosen the be^t bit actor and JlmiiJPqFres thCitop bit actress. grosser of the year. I Comedian Sandrini's return from film work in Spain has been con- siderably publicized in local news- reels, as part of a campaign con- nected with release of his last Argentine picture, "Don Juan Tenorio." Mexican director Rob- erto Gavaldon is putting the last touches to "Mi Vida por la Tuya" ("My Life for Yours"), his first Argentine-made picture. The ace Mexican director has chores to fulfill in Mexico before returning to make further pix for AAA. Cantinflas (Mario Moreno) is ex- pected in Argentina, from Mexico in July to make a picture for In- teramicana. The Mexican comic has visited Buenos Aires previous- ly, but did no film work. Inter- americana is one studio which can obtain all the supplies of raw stock it needs, paying for them with foreign currency obtained through its distribution activities .» abroad. But studio space is not so easy a problem to overcome., to the extent that Interamericana's schedule may have to be worked out from Chilean setS; Austrian Oscars Vienna, March 22. Sascha Film, distributing com- pany, has started an Austrian form of Oscar. Company will award prizes for annual best pic, jury to be composed of 16 film experts, , Action was taken in memory of ! Count Alexander (Sascha) Kolow- rat, pioneer of Austrian film biz. Films Help Push Mex City '48 Grosses to New High U. S. Pix, Via Subsidy-Tax, Help Build Up Spanish Rivalry in World Mkts. Madrid, March 22. The Spanish government during 1948 subsidized the making of 38 feature filnis in Spanish studios to the amount of 26,540,000 pesetas (about $3,000,000 at the present free market exchange), according to the ■ Sindicatio Nacional dos Espectaculos. The largest subsidy was given to "Mare Nostrum," a propaganda pic, about the Medi- terranean coast of Spain, which re" ceived about 2,000,000 pesetas. A large part of this sum is sup- posed to be paid back to the gov- ernment by the film companies. Loans and subsidies given in 1947 have already been paid back in amount of 25,000,000 pesetas. Money dispensed by the govern- ment to Spanish producers is the result of a tax on foreign films. . Thus American production is contributing the bulk of the sub- sidy to the Spanish film Industry, which is growing every year and is already regularly exporting its best films to continental Europe and, of course, to,South America, and especially Argentina, with which there exists special pacts for a regular exchange of pix. Rank Reshuffles Combine Execs to Fit Cutback Pattern; Sonrio, LDavis Out Arnold Plans P0,000 London Ballet Festival London, March 29. A season of ballet for the masses, to be staged at the Har- ringay Arena in August, is planned by Tom Arnold, who is bringing over Alicia Markova and Anton Dolin and the Original Ballet Russe as well as of a large number of other stars. Enterprise, which will be known as the London Ballet Festival, calls for an initial stake of $200,000. Admissions will range from 50c to $3. Arnold hopes to make the event an annual one and also to engage a large symphony orchestra. A special stage is to be btiilt at one end of the arena. Swiss Assns. Fine Loew's IRISH THEATRE GROUP ADDS 4 PICTURE SPOTS Dublin, March 24. Irish Cinemas, Ltd., announced purchase of three nabe houses on Dublin's north side—Fairvicw, Strand and Drumcondra—^d a fourth now nearing completion at Cabra, new suburb. It's under* stood, that tm> undeveloped sites in suburbs of ilLillester and White- hall were included in the deal, which was made with Leonard Ging. - Ging retains interest in only one cinema in Dublin area, the Sutton, part way o^t of town. All houses in the group have capacity be- tween 1.1D0 and 1,630, In addition, Irish Cinemas already controls the biggest cine-variety house in Ire- land—3,750-seater Theatre Royal, Dublin—Savoy, Dublin; Regal Rooms, Dublin; Savoy, Cork, and Savoy, Limerick. Group is allied to J. Arthur Rank interests, and has John H. Davis as member of the board. Louis EUiman is man- aging-director. Geneva, March 29. Charged with improperly hold- ing theatres here and in Lausanne, Loew's International drew a stiff penalty from the Exhibitors' and Distributors Assns. Although con- sidering the ruling unusually hard, company prez Arthur Loew and continental European manager David Lewis accepted the verdict which imposes a suspension of three weeks of all Metro shows in Swiss territory. In addition, Loew's was fined $1,250 plus an assessment of 1^13,500 damages to the associations along with divestiture of the the- atres that were involved in the dispute. Previously a Swiss legalite had claimed Loew's could own the houses in question. Judgment meted out by the trade organizations was levied upon Loew's as an organization member. Under the Swiss film industry set- up no exhib may deal with a non- distributor member and vice-versa. The government sanctions the groups as long as they exist har- moniously although it's generally conceded that their makeup borders on the monopolistic. London; March 29, As a result of the production re- Lorganiiiation \within the J. Arthur Rank group, two managing direc- tors are out. They are Josef Somio of Two Cities and Edwin Davis of Production Facilities. Latter is not to be confused, of course, with Hank's chief aide, John Davis. A number of senior executives have also been fired In the reshufriing. As a consequence of the reox-- ganization, production has been concentrated at Denham and Pine- wood with substantial reduction in costs. A new company, to be known as J. Arthur Rank Pi ocluc-- tions, Ltd., is being formed,which will take over the function.s for- merly carried out by D & p stu- dios, Ltd., and Production Facili- ties, and the directorate of the new outfit will be headed 'by Hank as chairman, supported by John Davis, George Archibald, Sir Michael Balcon, Sydney Box, Earl St. John and Spencer Heis; Archi- bald, Box and St. John will be ex- lecutive producers and the new company would incorporate Gains- borough, Pinewood aiid Two Cities; Another process In the reorgani- zation will be the amalgamation of the story departments of Gainsi borough, Pinewood and Two Cities, and the casting departments will be reduced from three to two with one at Denham and another at Pinewood. P. H. Shirley has been named personal assistant to John Davis, managing director of the J. Arthur Rank organization and Rank's top. aide. Shirley, an Australian, has been departmental manager of Peat, Warwick, Mitchell & Go;, British accountants. R. H. Dewes, licensing and per- sonnel controller of Circuits Man- agement Assn.^ has been made di- rector of personnel to the J. Arthur Rank organization. ITALO PIX FANS SQUAWKi Mexico City, March 29. Paid public amusements grossed 105,500,000 pesos (about $20,000,- 000) in 1948, a new high for here, city treasury department an- AT n C CINrri? nilDDIUr l n«unces. That topped the 1947 At U. U. alllULll jJuDDlPltl gross of 98.600,000 p6sos, and is Rome March 29 ' i'6"i3i"''^*ble because the depression Italian film fans are voicing loud ' ""'t^ well under way last year squawks against the practice of '. whereas there were only signs of dubbing m Italo voices for w.k. ' ' American personalities like Bing I Biggest gro.s.ser last year, as al- Dunham's Dance Dates Ronie, March 22. Katharine Dunham and her troupe are due here end of month, and will spend April dancing in various Italian cities, Switzerland, Belgium and Sweden dates follow. Dancer is in no way connected with "Les Ballet Negres," now touring Portugal, as reported^ Croshy, D<,nny Kaye and Frani.^T^^^i^^^^l^J'''':.!^!^'^^'^^^^i^ Sinatra. The latest Sinatra pic to be rcl(;a.sed in Italy, "AnChor.S Aweigh" jMeti-o), was panned be- cause Sinatra was permitted (o sing only two of his several songs in the film. • Most American vocalists have a large following in Italy via wide- spread circulation of their records.' Dubbing in of Kayo's voice in "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" iRKO) also provoked negative audience and press reaction, due (o failure of making accurate vocal transla- tions. Stolz's New Hit . Nuremberg, March 29. "Tn Casablanca," Robert SloJz' new musical revue, had its world preem at the Opera House in Nuremberg, Sunday (27), Musical received unanimous critical raves. functioning taking 78,896,379.54 pesos paid by 50,464,540 persons. The 47 bullfights here last year drew 1.130,058 cash customers, who paid 6,044,136.80 pesos. The thea- tres did somewhat better than that, the eight houses grossing 6,627,- 108.39 pesos from 1.802,752 cu,s- toniers at 4.040 shows. .Opera, concerts and oilier long- hair ftmclions gros.scd S52,769.7.'i pe,sos from 12!) shows (hat 71,012 paid lo see. Tlie three prizefight and wreslliiig halls drew 1,146,379 cu.stomors to 392 fights, and gi o.ssed 3,008.326.70. The 104 - lootball matches attracted 1,307,176, and grossed 4,8.'i.3,:i77.2,'^ po.so.s, while the 114 ba.seball games had 421,741 cu.stoniers and a gate of 1,430- 381.88 pesos. Karachi, in Pakistan, will soon build a studio of its own for pro-' (luclng films in Arabic, Persian i and Urdu. Current London Shows London, March 29. "Adv. Story," James (2). "Annie Get Gun," Col's'm (95). "Bless the Bride," (Adelphi (101). "Belinda Fair," Sav. (1). "Browning," Phoenix (29). "Cage Peacock," Cambridge (51). "Daphne," Wynd ID. '^Edward; My Son," Lyric (96). "Foolish Gent'w'n," Duch. (5). "Happiest Days," Apollo (53). "Harvey," Wales (13). "Heiress." Ilaymarket (9). "High Button Shoes," Hipp. (15). "Human Touch," Savoy (7>. "Kid From .Strat.," Winl. i26). '^Latin Qt. Revue," Casino (2). "Lilac Time*" Maj. (6). "Miss Mabel," Strand iI8). "Oklahoma!" Drury Lane (100). "One Wild Oat," Garrick (17). "Oranges & Lemons," Globe (9). "Perfect Woman," Play. (29). "Queen Came By," Yolk (1). ".September Tide," Aid. (16). "Summer in Dec," Comedy (1). "Together Again," Vic. Pal. (103). "Woman's Place," Vaude d). "Worm's View," Whitehall (101), Stockholm Pix B.O. Dip In 1948; Legit Up Stockholm, March 22, Government's high admission tax is believed responsible for a big dip in this city's film theatre at- tendance last year. Some 14,200,000 tickets were sold in 1948 through film house wickets as against 15,200,000 the preceding 12 months. On the other hand, Stockholm legit more than held its own, with 1,700,000 ducats vended for plays and concerts in 1948 compared, to 1,500,000 for the previous period; Despite the loss of 1,000,000 ad- missions at film b.o., the govern- ment still collected nearly $1,400,- 000 more in admission bites in 1948 than in '47. Dance halls also chalked up a slight decline, draw- ing only 3,740,000 customers in 1948, a slip of 212,000 from the comparable period. Total Stock- holm 1948 entertainment taxes were $4/761,408, as against $2,466,- 624 in 1947. SHARIN MAKING NEW TV FILM SHORTS IN VIENNA Vienna, .March 15. Eugen Sharin, prez of Ambas« sador Films, is in Yienna experi- men ting with a new idea of black- outs for television. Idea is a four minute short, featuring the Vienna Philharmonic Orch and State ' Opera Ballet. He has also begun work on opera shorts, 10 to 12 minutes long, at the Schoenbrunn studio. First is "Andalusian Nights," with "Carmen" music, and Maria Cebo- tari and Marko Rothmueller as top singers. Orchestra is under Josef Krips. Wagner's "Tannhauser," with Esther Hethy and Rothmuel- ler, is to be another one. Leopold Hainish was inked again as direc- tor. Two other shorts, Beethoven's "Egmont" a n d "Tchaikovsky's* Fourth," were Just finished. Pix were shot in Belvedere under di- rection of Karl Boehm, Sharin ex- pects to stay in town until the end of this month, visit Budapest and then fly back to New York. New Spanish Producing Co. Skdi B^fixlK^ Madrid, March 22. Valencia Film, new producing company in Madrid, has announced schedule for its first group of U.S. Pix 50% of Norway's - ''''J^^- Promoter and managing di T A • tnAc '■ector Is Teddy Villalba who ha! Film Imports in 1948 Oslo, March 22 U. S. films comprised 50% of all product imported into Norway last year, according to a check made here. Of some 301 pictures, Amer- ican producers furnished 150. Run- as had film experience in North and South America. The first film, already started at Chamartin Studios in Madrid, is "El Curioso Impertinete," based on a novel by Cervantes, adapted by Italian writer Alessandro De nerup was Britain, with 51, while ] Stefani and directed by Flavo Cal- France contributed 36. Others I MVara, an Italian. It stars Jo.se were Sweden, 34; Denmark, 10; j Seoanes and Aurora Bauiista. ' Russia, seven; Italy, three, and ' Second pic will be "Sobre.salicnte" Finland, one. > I'"Spare Pails,") with Luis Ligcro Top pictures from a b.o. stand-i direc^r and starring Miguel Li* point in the Norwegian market I gero and Rosita Yarza. during 1948 were "Best Years of Our Lives" (RKO), "Kempen om Tungvannet" (Norwegian), "The Dictator" (UA). ".lorund Smed" (Norwegian),^ "Bachelor and the i Bobby.soxer" (RKO), ''Ninotchka" ! (Metro), , "Iron Curtain" (20t:h), I Spanish neutrality in the war will be the subject of "Neutrali- dad,'' directed by Fernandez Ar- dovin and starring Adriana BrnettI (Italian) and Jorge Mistr.al iMcxi- can). Also promised is a color film, "Rumba," starring Fernando de "Flickan fran Stormyrtorpet" I Granada and directed by R. Tor (Swedish), "Frieda" (British) and rado, who is also co-author with 'The Unfaithful" iWB). i H. S, Valdes of the script.