Variety (June 1949)

•VABIlCTT'i* LONDON OFTfCC S St* MftrtlB'v Trafaluftr Hymif# IXTER.^AT10:VAL Raw Stock ‘Essential’ in Arg, Easing Film Sitnations; Stndios Are Active Buenos Aires, May 17. 4* I I Rodgers Hainmerstein To Fly to Brit. ‘Annie’ Anni London, May 31. Emile Littler has booked the en- raw stock as an essential Import „ a list of other raw materials for which it will grant exchange per- mits in order to keep local indus- tries going. The Bank also in- ' Hrl ‘•>‘- cluded photographic plates in the | p/.® June 12. to list, stocks of which had come I x “AnniP ^^RR|''’^**sary Sown to a minimum, greatly af- ColiseSm ChieT'iterv^^nn th' 'n" f«Ung the taking of still, a, locaP ™J^Va': on’impiHs‘lrwUl beyme‘timrbe^ V"’ ^'‘"'"‘•^•‘d'^'lnviu's are fore stocks of film begin <o arJ ^trld.Tn® the sfar,. iLrrwill rive in the country, and meanwhile „| 3 „ ^e , big floor show mg a?ing a"’“\"h7 KsiV^7Th^ K»' "“‘'O Ing along as the result ot the jjy jyj^ Littler. and Rich- shortage Some are s''‘tchmg ^^d Rodgers and 0.scar Hammer- plans and sending crews over to oj® „.u- rhile and Urufituav to make some I specially flying Chile ana Uruguay, lo maxe some Y ^ occa- sequences of their pix there, using j raw stock they w'ere able to pick up ! in those countries but could not import into Argentina. Independencia Studios, indie production unit, which last year made the surprise hit “Ragged Football” (“Pelota de Trapo”), has started work on ‘‘Los Perez Garcia.” based on the popular radio feature by Oscar Luis Massa, which ran for over six years on the | _ Lisbon, May 24. Mundo web. Some top radio per -1 Legit in Portugal is going sonalities who helped this program, through its worst crisis since pre- Sara Prosperi, Manolita Poli. Mar- "'3*' days. By the middle of June tin Zabalua, Gustavo Cavero. Lisbon theatres will be clo.sed Julian Bourges and Tito Gomez. and revue artists will be are to play their usual parts in the ®| work. The Nacional thea- film version. close June 8. Same date Emelco plan on teaming Olga revues now at the Victoria and Zubarry with Narciso Ibanez Variedades theatres will close after Menta in “La Muerte Esta Min- end-of-the-season period tiendo” (“Death.Is Lying”i. which half-price. Lack of public sup- New Sheckman Unit London, May 31. The Sol Sheckman circuit of picture theatres, which controls sime 50 cinemas mainly in the north of England, is floating a I stock issue, and forming a com- , pany with a capital of $4,000,000. New company, which has been registered under the title Essoldo A.ssociated Theatres, will have 5,000.000 shares with a par value of 80c. Name Shortage Adds to Woes Of Paris Boites; Tourist Hypo Seen Legit Crisis I : In Portugal Francisco Mugica will direct, from a story by Abel Santa Cruz. Yet another production unit has been formed, undeterred by raw stock difTicuities, in Rosario de Santa Fe. First production of new port is cau.se of the Lisbon theatre season’s early closing. Touring companies in the provinces have fared no better and are back in Lisbon. No Portuguese shows are on at U. S., British Coin Block Still Disturbs Austria AKM; Group in OK Shape Vienna. M.ay 24. The annual report of the board of directors of ,\KM (Austrian Society of Authors. Composers and Publishers > has been approved unanimously by the general assem- bly. Total revenue was 7,61.5,000 schilling ($761..500 at the official rate — but that doesn’t mean a thing*. Pop music had. as usually, the lead with ^496.000, film income increased considerahl\, while ra- dio contributed a mere $71,000, Belgium, Holland. Poland. Switz- erland and Hungary remitted a to- tal of $40,000. while Spain and Czechoslovakia didn’t answer let- ters of AKM requesting that a reciprocal treaty be drawn up. as existed before World War II. Members learned to their great surprise that all amounts due to them in U. S. and Great Britain are still under sequestration. The explanation for “formal reasons only” doesn’t solve a problem still existing more than four years after the end of hostilities. In addition to the excellent flnaneial situation of AKM. came news that Richard Strauss signed up as member. With the exception of Germany. AKM will collect all royalties for Strauss. Czech Pix Industry Sets Goal Under 5-Year Plan Washington. May 31 Czech film industry is shooting for a production increase whieli. by 1953, will be yielding 56 fea- tures and 143 shorts, reports Nathan 1). Golden, chief of the motion picture - photographic branch of the U. S. Dept, ot t’om- merce. Under the five-year economic plan laid down, total value of film production in 19,53 would be 575.- OOO.OOO crowns, compared 370.0l)0.()()() crowns in 1948. country also plans to up the ber of the picture houses h\ At pre.sent there are country. w ith 'fhe num- 1.38(1. 1.928 in the oaiua re. rirsi proauciion oi new ■ ^ . , outfit. Alza Films, is to be a com-! only one theatre is edy called “Que Tiempos Aquellos” (“The Good Old Days”), with g' * lee Follies. A com- pany starring Laura Alves and number of local comics doing im personations of famed film come- ^^rejas Caciro has left Oporto dians of long ago. ^one on tour, homing for bet- A as • • • ,. • niimnoss. Argentina Sono Film is getting : business, set to start work on “Nacha Re^ , T paying its way in gules.” which is to team Zullv Moreno with Arturo de Cordova 't ^ once more, and it is hoped to re- talent^ ss achieved la^t v«ir youngsters. But they are Spanish ss achieved last yaj. ^ Portuguese The nniv fninre. peat the success acnieved last y«ar ' * r. * vr.u' 1 > , with "Que Dios ,e lo Paaue." d •’•"■'uguese. The onl.v futures IaMa/I g revue at the Avenida vear anH «pictuce of the theatre already cast with 10 artists and chorus of 18—a very economi- cal cast—and the opening in June of the People’s Theatre, employing only six artists. IRISH NEWSREEL ROW TEMPORARILY PATCHED year, and w'hich has opened a cer tain amount of interest in Argen- tine pix in some foreign markets. Film Andes is completing a mu- sical directed by Marianito Mores, “Corrientes—Streat of Dreams.” which treats the Argentine Broad- way as the mecca of Argentine en- tertainment talent. Emelco currently has four pix In production at its Martinez, stu-, Dublin. May 31. dios. one of these being “Faseina- A temporary patch has been put tion.” from a story by Pondal Rios ' on the row between the Kinema- and Carlos Olivari. with Arturo de tograph Renters .Assn, and Irish Cordova. Elisa Galve and .Alicia Theatre and Cinema Assn. It has been agreed that exhibs will play ! out unexpired parts of their eon- 4 . A A. s rv k 1 tracts for the showing of these American Artists Set reels. These contracts were sus- For German Zone Tours vd'uions'o' 'ltS Frankfurt, May 24 in May. 1943. Four groups of American artists in the meantime talks are going Will tour the U. S. Zone of Ger- , on to fix new trading conditions for many this summer under a pro- future contracts and new houses gMm sponsored by the cultural ' opened since 1943 Exhibs will Trees’ Leads B. A. Legit; I Nacional Still in Dumps Buenos Aires. May 24. ! ' Government - controlled 'I'eatro, Nacional de Comedia, w hieh has run into one bad season after an- other. and isn’t doing any better I this year. Revival of F.nriquc Gar- ! cia Vello.so’s one-time hit. ’’I..OS Amores de la Virreina." has run the theatre into a production cost of around $18,000 (U.S.) — high for Buenos Aires. Lola Membrives. veteran Span- I ish-Argentine legiter. i.s getting set to produce Jean Cocteau’s “Eagle with Two Heads.” Best legit grosser last month was Alejandro Casona’s “Los Ar- boles Mueren de Pie” ( “Trees Die Standing”) at the .Aleneo theatre with Luisa Vehil and Esteban Ser-. rador heading the cast, and Em- presa Gallo producing. CIrosses for, April were around $60,000 (U.S. Brit. Vauders Nix 180 % O.S. Rodeo London. M.iy 31. Projected importation of a 100'’, American rodeo is meeting with strong opposition from the Variei> Artists Federation, and there is little likelihood that the applica- tion for labor permits as requested will be granted. VAF executive roiineil. which considered the application on a number of occasions, has now de- cided that the application must comply with its "circus conditions.’’ which demand that a substantial percentage of the acts be Biilisli and only a limited number of for- eign origin. Tentative approach has been made for the rodeo to go into I lie Empress Hall, the 12.()00-seat sta- dium at Earl’s Court. an all-Negro Three .lust Ben .lohtison BLOOM IS OFF ‘ROSES’ IN ITS LONDON DEBUT London. Ma.v 27. The opening of “'rwo Dozen Roses” at the Lyrie May 25 was cordially received, but because of its unoriginal theme, it Iwoks like an unlikely prospect. Italian (om- edy was adapted by Kenneth llorne and stars Evelyn Laye as a bored wife seeking rejuvenation. Mi.ss Laye’s talent seems wasted in her first non-singing role. Jouvet Makes Grade Paris. May .31. Actor Louis Jouvet crashed the Larousee, French equivalent of Webster’s, with about 10 lines and a photo. Maurice Chevalier and Misting- uett, “tainted” with revue asso- ciations, will have to wail. afTaii*s branch. U. S. Military Gov ernment. Artists for the German junket are to be selected by a panel of musicians and critics in New York. Milton Katims, guest conductor of the NBC Symphony Orchestra and prominent violinist, heads the list selected so far. Sixtv mem- bers of the Yale Glee Club will Visit the zone about mid-July, directed by Marshall Bartholomew’. Harrell. Met Opera baritone, Will give recitals and appear as start to play out old contracts from June 6. International Lineup For Italo ‘Devil’ Rim Rome. May 24. An interesting array of interna- tional talent will be used by direc- tor Mario Marinotti in his forth- coming film, tentatively titled “To the Devil with Celebrities.” Mischa give recitals and appear as , - Kue.st artist with leading German Auer Is due to arrive in Rome June opera companies. The Walden ^ ^o play the starring part Others String Quartet, members of the Ferrucio Tagliavini, music faculty at the U. of Illinois. Metropolitan Opera star 1^111 start a,six-week tour about ""‘’J? June 15 I middleweight chamo: William C. Milli at Actor-Producer London, May 31. John Milks has turned actor-pro- ducer for J. Arthur Rank's “The Rocking Horse Winner.” being ma(le at Rank’s Denham studios. Besides Mills, the cast features middleweight champ: William Tubbs, of “Paisan.” who is now In Italy, and Marilyn Buford. Miss America of 1946. Film is to be made in Rome and Florence in two languages, Italian and English. As an answer to 201 h’s “The Iron Curtain,’’ Soviet zone film M l J t'T ‘'-“‘“‘V houses in Germany have slated vaunt HaI)son and John Howard, f^ur productions—“The Meeting Rank is currently using frozen at the Elbe River." “The Man marks for the filming In Germany From Wall Street.’’ “The Marked or sequences for “They Were Not Dollar” and “We Defend the Dlvidid." .peace." I Current London Shows London. May 31. (Figure shou's irrcKs of run} “Adv. Story,” James ill'. “Ann Veronica,” Piccadilly (2'. “Annie Get Gun." 'Col’s in (104'. “Beaux Stratagem.” Phoenix <5', “Bless the Bride.” Adciphi illO'. “Brigadoon.” .Majesty i7'. “Belinda Fair,” Savoy (10'. “Black Chiffon." West '5'. “Daphne,” Wynd (1()> "Dark of .Moon," .Xmbassador <7(. .**Foolish Gent’w’n,” Dueh. *141. “Happiest Days.” Apollo '62». “Harvey,” Wales <22'. “Heiress,” Haymarket (18'. "High Button Shoes,” Hipp f24V "Lady’s Burning, ” Globe '4'. "Latin Qt. Revue." Ca.sino 'll'. "Lilac Time," Palace '6'. “.Man .About Dog.” Princess *2'. “Oklahoma!” Drury Lane '109'. “One Wild Oat.” Garrick '26'. “Queen Came By.” York '10'. “Sauce Tartare.” Caml)ridge '2'. “September Tide,” Aid. '25'. “Shooting Star.” Playhouse '5'. “Together .Again,” Vic. Pal '112'. “Turners’ Hush.. ” St Mart (.5'. “Two Dozen Roses,” Lyric 'if “Worm'* View," Whitehall 'IIU ‘Folies’ to Replace Vaude At Palladium in Fall » London. May 31. Palladium vaudeville season terminates end of September or early October and will be replaced by Bernard Delfont’s "Folies Bergere.” currently touring ttie provinces for 10 to 12 weeks This will be replaced by the annual pantomime, with vaudeville re- sumed in late Mareji or early April. The "Folies” will have several American and continental acts in- cluded to elaborate the prexoila- tion. 20th’s (’ortese in >lil’an Hosp.; Due Sept, on (’oast Rome. Ma\ 24 Valentina (’orte.se. Italian tilni- .star. i.s in a hospital in..Milan for an appendicitis operation She is expected to return to Home in a week This is her first trip home after spending a year in Moll,\ wood under contract to 2()th-Fov Actress Anna .Marie Pado.an fa- miliar to Italian filmgoei.> and U. S. radio audiences where she was heard on the N. Y. Italian ra- dio program. ’’Voce d'ltalia." is with her In September, Mi.>s (’or- lese will return to HolKvNood for further film work She hail ju'il completed ‘‘Malaya” lor .M-G on loan from her own studio Oracle’s 92G in 8 London_.Ma> 31 (Jraeie Fields' eight porloi in- ances at Empress Hall drew 55.1)00 people, for a $92,000 ho gross English star was paid In pro- moter Victor Hoehhausei $3,000 per show. By ART BirCHW.Al.D Paris. May 31, Paris niteries recently plagued by bad biz are now sufTering from a shortage of big name entertain- ers. In hopes of popping a lot of ehiimpagne corks and filling up empty tables, hoite owner.s arm desperate for drawing cards to catch the tourist trade Les Am- bassadeurs. shuttered for the win- ter. managed to grab Jo.sephino B.aker to headline the new show'. Miss Baker’s own niterv. (’hei Josephine Baker, folded, and has now returned to the original namo of (Muh des Champs Elysees Tho singer is doubling between the Fol- ies Bergeres and Amhassadems. Her cafe date is reported at armind $1..5()0 per week, a top figure for a Paris entertainer. Copacabana also opened its doors to catch some of the tourist doHars The clul). which looki like it was transferred from a Hollywood set. has been Irving to find a big name to draw tiie cus- tomers. The ('opa opened with Albert Prejean, a French cinema star, hut show was slow and not viMV well staged. .lean .Audier and Rene ('ipriani. who bought Ilia place after a two-year fling at Club Florence, are angling for Edith Piaf. Chances for getting h(*r ara good, since Audier was formerly impresario for Miss Piaf hefoia the war. The singing .star has been having throat trouble since her ABC stint and is taking it easv for the moment. Meanwhile the (’lub des Champs Ely.sees which wa* bought by Bernard Phillips, a Capetown. South Africa, hotel and night club direolor, hgs signed I’ops and Louie and show inefuding the Men. Kilroy and the dancers. Reinhardt Still Tops F!thel Smith did good Imsine.sg at the Lido Club where she mada a two-week guest appearance The Lido's new spectacle premiered May 26. The Pavilon U'KIvsees, al.so known as ParLs-Paris. changed Its policy and signed a show to re- place the dinner music comho which has been playing at tha restaurant since the end of tlia war. Andre Ekyan i.s swinging tha baton and Hejene Robert does tha warbling. Django Reinhardt, top guitar player. Is the main attrac- tion. The gypsy musician the “Duke” brought over States a feW- years ago for cert tour, is still the No I the Freneh jazz pieture Suzy Solidor returned to her own Club de rOjiera Ma,\ 27 Tha night spot has been sulTering since Miss Solidor went to the U S . tint is expected to do solid business, especially since the Amoric.in tour lias made many mure stileside fan.s, Ciro’s, which had Lucienne Boyer for six months, is now with- out a name singer. The club ia looking around for a headliner Y'ves Montand has followed tha Piaf-Compagnons des Chansons (omhination into the ABC Mon- tand was scheduled for a Ver- sailles, N. Y., performance early thi.s year but U. S. State Dept of- ficials said nix on issuing him a visa .because of political alTilia- lions. While the consul refused to give a definite no on the appli- cation. they have had the matter “under consideration ” for six months and chances of getting tlie visa are slim. The Freneh Com- munist journals have given the story qtiite a play Both "C’e Soil” and “L’Humanile" have run .stories on it. It i.s believed Mon- tand is the first French entertainer to receive this type of treatment The lesser nit cries, except b tew musts and plush spots like Mmi. seigneur and Casanova, are empty because the tourisU won’t go any- where excrept where they are sura that the name place is one they can’t miss and will give them. i( not a run for their money, af least something to talk about on tlieir return home. So they go to tin Lido. Tabarin and Folies Bergere, and would patronize them even if they were still far worse Then they save their coin The Rue Fon- taine and Rue Pigalle spots ate empty. whom to the a con- man in F.mily Markus, wellknown dra- matic actress of Budapest Na- tional Theatre, and mother-in-I.’iw of the Russian dancer. Nijinsky, celebrated the 75th anniversaiv of lier stage careti.