Variety (July 1949)

TABimr**' m. ■••rtiii'B i.oxnoN OFnrv IS Brit. Exhibs Second Rank on Poor Pix; Burden Seen Put on Subsequent-Runs London, July 12. 4 Frank admission by J. Arthur Rank at the annual meeting of the British Film Producers Assn., that there were too many bad or mediocre films, has been welcomed by Emdon exhibs, who have launched a new offensive against the high **'*Speaking as BFPA prexy. Rank attributed the present state of the British production industry to overproduction occasioned by inadeQuate personnel, high costs and Sie large slice of boxoffice revenue collected by the Treasury in entertainments Ux. Consequently his formula for future prosperity ^as elimination of extravagance, limitation of output and a drive to obtain a rebate for producers from the Exchequer. Although Rank and the BFPA generally still defend their quota attitude, his remarks were endorsed at the half-yearly meeting of the London Branch of the Cinematograph Exhibitors Assn, last Thursday (7), because they underlined the difficulties being experienced by independents whose right to program selectivity is eliminated by the inadequate amount of British product available. Attitude of exhibs was forcibly summed up by vice-chairman Theo H. Fllgelstone. who declared the assumption by the state that a ministry can detemdne the form of entertainment that a free people attend and pay for, is beyond comprehension. Spotlighting the difficulties of the flrstrun exhib, Fligelstone asserted that the position for second and subsequent-run theatres was infinitely worse and they had often, willynilly, to play pix which had already proved a flop on their initial showing. Appealing for closer relationship with the American industry, Fligelstone emphasized that standing out beyond all else, was the present dismal drop in attendances, and unless quality and not more quantity was the goal of producers, the road to the establishment of a British film industi’y will be a long and dreary one. British Film 'Gestapo’ To Offer Quota Default List London, July 12. First fruits of the British Film Producers Assn’s fact-finding committee, christened “Gestapo” by exhibs, will be seen in the next few days when a list of “substantUl and unju.stifiable” quota defaulters is submitted to the Board of Trade. Analysis now being completed will embrace a comparatively small number of theatres but will focus attention on wiiat are believed to be among the most Jlagrant examples of breaches of the Films Act. It will be the forerunner of a constant series which will be sent to the government by tlie producers for examination by the Films Council. The fact-finding committee has also collated a detailed report on all reliefs and exemptions so far granted to exhibs and this. too. has been sent to the Board of Trade. Nest-Egg: Due Brit. Film Employees in New Pact i.ondon. July 12. Employees in nearly 5,000 British cinemas will receive a nest-egg next week as a result of the agreement negotiated by the National Assn, of Theatrical and Kine Employees with the Cinematograph Exhibitors Assn. Not only are thev to receive more pay. but the agreement is retroactive to May 16. Negotiations between the two organizations were finalized la.st Thursday (7) and the agreement will be signed in the near future. Metro’s Burger Sees Record Year For Company’s Foreign Grosses SARO Sets Up Firstrun Outlets iu Canada Keys Toronto. July 12 Newly organized Selznick Alliance Releasing Organiz.'ttion b;is gained firstrun outlets in Winnipeg. Calgary and Vancouver for its product, following recent consummation of booking deals with exhibitors in those three days. In a transaction worked out by SAUO’s Grosses Outrun Native J.iines, ir Local Releases Top U. S. Pix in B.A. But American Spain Exhibs Fear U.S. Pix Drought Barcelona, June 30. Spanish film exhibitors are .sort of panicky for the 1949-30 season, with rumors that big American companies would not bring in many pix next sea.sqn, and not one of the distributing units h.sving as yet published its list for the coming season. No big titles have 'as yet been let out. 20th-Fox, Metro, Universal and RKO have not said a word, but it is known that the latter will offer “Joan of Arc.” Metro “Gone With the Wind.” 20th “Walls of Jericho,” and that several English and American pix will released through Universal. However, all this is not sufficient to plan a season from September to June, and the fear of theatre owners are the prices they’ll have to pay for U. S. pix. Formerly, about the middle of June nearly all di.stributors had published their coming sea.son list and held conventions. The 194849 season just ended has been good for American productions in spite of several fair Spanish, European, Mexican and Argentine films. Audiences are delighted with American stars; the only complaint is the plot, which in some features goes far beyond logical events. AUSTRIA TAXES HLM HOUSES TO AID LEGIT Granada’s Newsreel Nix Stirs Court, CEA Action; Pathe Sole Co. Kudo^ London, July 12. With a High Court action pending as a result of cancellation of his newsreel contracts. Sidney L. Bern.stein. chief of the Granada circuit, has lashed out against the poor quality of the reels, all of which, with one exception (PatheK ire lacking “the sense of journalistic selectivity and showmanship.” (Latest development in the newsreel situation is the decision of the Cinematograph Exhibitors Assn, to hold a referendum among all thea ! Vienna. July 7. ascertain how many ' A maximum lO'o surplus tax would cancel their present con[(with 10 Groschem (lc» minimum trwts if they were free to do so.) | was voted by Parliament today i7) Bernstein asserts that, in the on all film houses in Austria. company, newsreels [ Proceeds are to be used solely iMay make no contribution to box ■ to help “legit of cultural imofiice receipts. In their view they . portance.” w ith distribution of s ow incompetence in production j one-fourth by the state and threeana often display political bias. ' fourths by the provincial goveriiey do the British industrv great I nicnts. harm and discredit and are ini Am L newsreels show n In American and some of the Continental efforts. Prepared to show good wsreels provided the companies "••wng them have sufficient con to take the Inr^ * i^!*^**’^*' business and alPatrons cancel contracts if j Buenos Aires. July 3. I The number of local pix releases , still tops those of U. S. films, and I the week of July 4-9 will repeat this situation, with the local product getting better playing dates over the July 9 national holiday period. “De Hombre a llomhre" (.\AA> ! will go on the Rex screen July 9 I instead of “The Smugglers.” whicli Eagle Lion had skedded for June 23. Meanwhile “A Foreign Affair” (Par>, in its second w'eok. is grossing strongly. “Macbeth” <20th)was released at the Luxor June 29 and “Easy to Wed” at the OperM June 23. Sinca’s historical opus “Nace la Libertad,” which has taken more than a year to make, is scheduled to open at the Ideal and Premier July 9, celebrating Independence Day, and involving postponement of a number of Hollywood pix. which have been aw'ailing release for some time. “Road House” (20th). at the Ambassador, has surprised everyone by grossing $16,60(1 (U. S.* In Its first W’eek and has continued one of the top Rros.sers, running into three weeks so fai-. Following are grosses at firstruns of some of the top releases of the year, for both U. S. and Argentine pix. “Arch of Triumph.” $52,940. at Opera; “Life With Father.’’ $42,000, Premier; “Mr. Blundings’ Dream House.” $21,600. Gran Rex; “I Remember Mania.” $21,200, Ambas.sador; “Se Llamaba C. Gardel,” $32,960, Monumental; “Apenas un Dellncuente,” $28,040. .\mhas.s,'idor; “Todo uil Heroo.” $3. .500. Normandie. indie exhib Harry Cohen will play a minimum of language pix at his (iescenl. gary. and Valour. Winnipeg, witliin the next 12 months. Vancouver deal calls f«»r the Studio, owned by Dave Gric.sdorf. to receive exclusive first run in th.'il city of all Alliance foreign imports. Initial arrangement covers a minimum of seven pictures Involved in the bookings are ‘Shoe Shine.’’ “Barber of Seville.” “'I’his Wine of Love" and a number of oilier UriiIsh and Italian films. Mex TV Ready For Govt. Go-Ahead STRATFORD-ON-AVON TROUPE SET FOR AUSSIE I Sydney. July 6. I Dan O’Connor, who brought the I Ballet Rambert and the Old Vic Co. here in conjunction with tlie British Council last year, will import solo the Stral roi'd-on-.\von ! Shakespeare Memorial Co., headed I by Diana Wynyard. 1 Troupe will fl.\ out here around 'next October. Dates tor Alclhourne W'ill probably be arranged through i Sir Ben Fuller and Garnet Carroll I for the Princess theatre. Sydney dating late November will be by arrangement with the Dave Martin Tivoli loop at 1’ivoll. same house I that played the two other brilisli units. Mexico City. July 5. Emilio .Azeurraga, top radio station operator (XEW. XEQ and XEOY t and cinema man Imre, is lining up Mexican capital to set up television in a big way pronto. He figures it can be done wiili an investment of from $2.(K>0.000 to $3,000,000 (U. S.). Azearraga revealed that he and as.sociates asked the Ministry of Communications and Public Work.s four years ago for a video franchi.se but no action was taken on the application. Yet despite today’s higher costs, in pesos, with the dollar at 8.6.5 pesos, he thinks Mexico can have video pronto. Azearraga thinks official delay in granting him a television concession mav lie due to the fear tliat because he is a big radio, pic and studio (Churubuscot operator, he would mono|>olize video. He denies any such intention. Another step toward materializing television in Me\i<-o is preparations to make shorts for video that are being completed here by 'Gen. Juan F. Azearate, producer of EM. A. the Mexican newsreel, and documentaries, and Hector I (Jonzalez, of RC.A-Victor. Their t first will feature Consuelo Velazqiiez, composer of the top Standard Mexican song. “Be.saine Muclio” (“Kiss Me Lots"). ♦ Metro is sighting the biggest I year of foreign grosses in the company’s history for 1049, despite the fact that other film companies are cr>ing red Ink blues abroad. Loew’s international worldwide sales manager Samuel N. Burger, just returned from a nine-week trip through Europe, declared this week that only some unforeseen difficulty, sirrh as a famine, could prevent the company from reaching a peak profit this year. Burger said he had been told by reps of other companies abroad that their earnings had fallen olT forei-’n I in the world market. He (•IJi1 ascribes Metro's better po.sition to a run of good boxoffice product which the company has turned out recently. Foreign filmgoers. he said, are shopping for their jiiilure fare just as tliey are now in the U. S. but. lie declared, they will still pay to see a picture they want to sec Heports that Kurope has been hit by a cost-of-living iru rcase is gencrall.N true, lie said, lull this factor lias hit tourists far more than it has the natives. It is still true, he pointed out. tlial it’s cheaper for a guy in most F.uropean countries to take his gal to a film theatre than to a sidewalk i-afe for a couple mugs of beer. There is no special type of picture doing best buslnes.s, he said. Inslead. different types of films go best in different territories. Burger said that Metro’s business has fallen off only in lh*lgium, due to a slight e<-onomi< recession in that country. Number of new theatres are being hiiill throughout Genuany, he reported, but theatre receipts are being depressed there because of persistent transportation ditTieiilties. Sales exec spent five week., in Germany and also visited Italy, France, Spain and Belgium on liis lour, lie emphasized that most of the film companies’ foreign earnings are still frozen. are not satisfied. Granada group S ®^owing newsreels at four sbir^^K at no time business been affected. notir^ -y exhibs notice to cancel gave 4 ’7 their new'sreel it ha. that bJ. n o" takings. IS?, "‘^"’sreel. “with a fitting S nn T«sPon«bility.” he says, tiirn* taken advantage of war and has distuliiess resource ^arcelona’ and '■ j * , closed films the musical show. Espanola” (“Spanish ^nngtunp-i. Mu.sic ^^ano, who orchestra. also (• is by conducts Gil the Brit. Reps Sure Anglo-U.S. , Pix Meet Won’t Be Nixed London, Jiilx' 12. British representatives of the ' .Anglo-.American Film Council are 1 confident that the .second meeting. I skedded for London next month. I W'ill take place as arranged. While I it is admitted that contact has yet I to be made with Eric Johnston to i agree on a final date, the general reaction among the delegation is that there won’t l>e a hitch. Sir Henry L. French, director i general of the British Film Pro' ducers Assn, and one, of the British reps on the Council, says that his colleagues In London cannot accept the view' voiced by sections of the .\merican industrx that, with the fontiruiance of the high quota. I there is no basis for discussion. i I No further communication has been received by the London delegates from Board of Trade prez Harold Wilson since his first communication before liis Canadian trip, asking for time to consider ‘ the points raised. S. African Film Tax Causing B. 0. Decline Cape Town. June 28. Admission that yield from increased taxation on cinema admissions had not come up to cxFiectntions, was made by the Administrator of the Cape Province in his budget speech. He revealed that the imposition two years ago of an approximately 50' f tax on theatre prices, had caused an appreciable drop in attendance.s. particularly in the smaller country districts. Some measure of relief is now being afforded to the lower income groups by reverting to the pre1947 tax (of one penny in every’ threepence) on admissions of up to one shilling and sixpence. The people who will largel.\ benefit from this will he the colored and nathe population and also children. I AUER SIGNED FOR TWO MORE ITALIAN FILMS Rome. July .5, Mischa Auer has contr.aclcd lor two more Italian films after finishing his present stint In M. Malcnotti’s production of “To (he Devil With C^clehrities” Deal was sot by tlie Italian agent. Arrigo Colombo, and Paul Kohner of Holl\ w ood. Auer’s wife and children are willi him in Rome. Y? When Is J or Rome, July 5. -Advertisements for the local cinema Include “Mayer Barbara” '“Major Barbara.” wlih Wendy Hiller' at the Arcoboleno and “I>a Bella dello Jukon." with Gypsy Rose Lee, at the Plaza. Pix Producers Investing Israeli Coin Locally Tel Aviv, .lime 30. F. Kaplan, Ministei of Finance, said in a reply to a question in Parliament that various U S. film coinp.anies were leaving their earnings in this country tm investment in the erection of cinemas or other ventures. He said they would do this until the government would relax Its freeze, making it iiossiiile tor them to take out part of tlieir earnings in foreign currency Out of a turnover of $600. 000 tlie government had released only $.5,000. Kaplan said. He was replying to a question by Lzhak Hen .Ahrou 'United Workers Part.N w ho had asked whether the rele.ase of hard currency for films of doubtless ctiltural and artistic value, mostly from the U. S.. was cotntuetisorate with the countiy’s economic and l ultural needs. I British Film Industry, BBC Talks on Theatre TV in Full Breakoff London. Jol\ 2. .All negotiations between tlie British film industry and*the British Broadcasting Corp. for TV rights in cinemas have hr(*keii down and there will be no tint her talks with the government until the various sections have gixen evidence to the new committee of inquiry which has In’cn siM up to determine the terms of tlie new charter. Decision was takem at a meeting last Tuesday (.5» of disti ihutors. exhibitors and producers under tlie chairmanship of J. Arthur Hank and follow'od the complete inability of the trade to reacli srdisfaetory conclusion with the government, On the other hand, a KBl’ plan of televising the histoix of the films has been left for individual consideration by each section. In the light of this development, threats by the A.ssn. for tlie Protection of Copyright in Sport that they will bar TV rights of all m.ijor events unless there is a BBl! guarantee again.st ledifliision. become almost moaningk’ss. Association is pressing for a statutory amendment of the 1911 (’o|>.' t ight Act, but tliat is a remote issue in the lifetime of tlic present Parliament. Korda Turns Danish Franchise Over to F-C’-P Copimliagen*. .lulx 5. Originally planning to distribute in Denmark on its own. Sir Alexander Korda’s London Film Productions has abandoned the idea and Instc.ad has turned over the Danish francliise to Film-(’entralen-Palladium. Korda set up a hual braneh last year, but never reached the stage xxiicre a single film was released. Meanwhile, F-C’-P has h<»okcd Korda’s "An Ideal Husband" into (’openhagen’s largest theatre, the Palladium, and has also set “.Anna Karenina" at the .Norrepoil. Nexv manager of F-C-P is Mrs. Tage Nielsen, wife of the former Metro manager here and now head of the Palladium studios