Variety (August 1949)

'B Pool’ a Mathematical Device Briefs From the Lots I Britishers Fmd Avid H’wood Desire For Yanh Coin into Anglo-U. S. Prod. t The “B pool,” which has suddenly sprung to prominence in U. S.-British film relationships, is a source of much misconception In the industry, even among top execs closely concerned with its operation. The pool comj?rises earnings of British pictures in America. But it is not a physical entity and no money actually ever goes into it. It is merely a mathematical computation. Under the Anglo-U. S. agreement, tlie sum calculated as earned by British pix here is labeled the “B pool.” It is added to the “A pool.” Latter comprises the $17,000,000 of American earnings in Britain that the U. S. distribs are allowed to take out in dollars annually. Thus, if the "B pool” amounts to $2,000,000. that’s added to the $17,000,000 and the Yank companies may remit out of their earnings in Britain a total of $19,000,000. This $19,000,000 is then divvied among the American distribs in ratio to the amount of biz each of them did in England during the year. U.$. Distribs, in Hassle Over ‘B’ Pool, Also Fighting Stall by British Gov’t ! Hollywood. Aug. 16. j Albert Keiiey bougiii "On Dark- waters.” Harris Dickson story in . 1 Colliers, for production as semi-1 ^ I documentary in the Louisiana ; bayou district “Locked In” new I tag on “The Big Cage” at Warners ejv j Dorothy Hart second femme knowi I lead in “Frame-Up” at U1 . . Metro j entinc ' picked “The Crossroad ” as third 1 Dexte j title for “Case of Martha Buhlen,” t who h I formerly “The Red Danube”. . 1 Rudol ' Metro sent the “Key to the City” fR^^i troupe out on location at Clover Small Finds Valentino’ Hollywood, Aug. 16. Edward Small’s long-sought un- known for the name role in “Val- j entino As I Knew Him” is Tony I Dexter, 29. a little theatre actor t who looks remarkably like the late I Rudolph. This will be his first film. His real name is Walter The “B pool” is not only the' fource currently of a bitter hassle between American distribs, but likewise of a battle between the U. S. industry and the British gov- ernment, it has been learned. As a result of a dispute as to what con- stitutes the earnings of British pix in America—which makes up the if Rank, for instance, choo.ses to spend his entire U. S. income on maintenance of a staff here or in any other way he desires. Aside from the matter of prin- I Field while Loretta Young is in ! the hosF)ital Benedict Bogeaus’ I shifted his “.lohnny One-Eye” com-, pany to Motion Picture Center, i ; h orn General Service, where he! ' maintains his offices Sol Lesser’s “Headhunters of the .Amazon” unit sent a shipment of film out of 1 Ecuador two days before the earth- I quake I Charles Barton will direct “Dou- ! ble Crossbones.” formerly “Half a j Buccaneer,” co-starring Donald I O’Connor and Helena Carter at ciple, the Americans as a practical i U Karl Tunberg will script next matter see little difference in what j Clifton Webb starrer at 20lh, “Mr. becomes of the “B pool.” Its only importance would be if a large sum pool—the Labor government has of money remained frozen in Eng- refused to compute exactly how land at the expiration of the Anglo- much coin is in the kitty. U. S. agreement. First year of operation by the American industry under the ^ Anglo-U. S. agreement ended June 11 L 14_two months ago. Other statis- 11 J | lY IflPIl linW tics in regard to the pact were com- a i wv puled shortly after that time, but ■ the amount of money the Ameri- I? J II 1 L cans were to share out of the “B i P 11| fl |j||||CnP|C pool” can’t be figured until an * i**U 1^11I.101I\/1 U agreement is reached. The pool has been a cau.se of dis- •li I* ^ pute among the American com- |f||||rp panics recently as a result of j lilVl w AmvIAAIvlIv charges that most of them were I using loopholes to prevent British ; Yank film men who have re- pic income from going into the pot. turned from visits to England dur- and were grabbing the coin for i jne the oast few' weeks declare that Belvedere Goes West,” based on a short story by Ben Hecht, “Con- cerning a Woman of Sin” . Wanda Tuchock’s writer option picked up by 20th for two years . . Warners bought John Twist’s “The Fires of Orinoco,’ ana turned it over to Anthony Veiller for pro- duction. Next galloper for Roy Rogers and Dale Evans at Republic is “Sunset in the Sierras,” starting Sept. 15. Edward J. White produc- ing . Lois Chartrand signed term player deal at Paramount . .“Twi- light.” filmed by Hakim Bros, for UA, will be relea.sed as “Witliout Honor” Clips of oldtime come- ► Lively Interest of American ! companies in anything that smacks I of promising British production is I attested to by Raymond Stross, partner with Anatole de Grunwald and playwright Terence Rattigan in World Screeni)lays. an indie British filmmaking unit. Slro.ss, whose company owns several val- uable Rattigan properties, was i “amazed at the open-arms recep- Picture will start Aug. 22 on the tion” he received on the Coast Goldwyn lot with a budget an- while on the hunt for U. S. releas- nounced as “around $1,000,000.” ing facilities. indicating that the big com- _ panics are vitally interested in If If li n n Kctting into British production at l|a|\3I||l pf|r||||||3 the present time, Stross declared ^ AmWllla A viiiiiASM negotiations are now cooking with several majors for ambitious production projects. He planed I ^11 yPlllllO for England this week where he AVI WllfVIAUA^ expects to continue talks with _ ^ British reps of Yank outfits. 0 I ■ II J ^ Meanwhile, Stross has closed a 1 IIlfA ri3| fl ^ U. S. distribution deal with United A 0 AllIV AAWl U V Artists on "O Mistress Mine.” proposed filmization of the Rat- Universal s latest disti ibution-1 play. Nasser Bros, are production deal with the J. Arthur supplying first money for the pro- ' Rank’s interests in Britain is of such sweeping nature that it may permit U to retrieve in hard dol- lars every shilling earned by the j company’s pix in the United King- j dom despite the current restric- 1 tions on remittances imposed by the Anglo-American film agree- ment. If so, U with its highly, favored Yank film men who have re- turned from visits to England dur- ing the past few' weeks declare that dies, featuring Charles Chaplin,' position as Rank’s closest ally Ritz Bros, and l.aurel & Hardy, would be the only major to reach duct ion and James Nasser will supervise the pic’s American hand- ling. In effect,,Nas.sers are buying a share in the U. S. rights. Stro.ss .said. Pact has already been inked. Further negotiations are under way with UA on other joint pro- duction ventures, according to Stross. That company’s execs, h« said, are convinced that joint Anglo-American production proj- ects will prove profitable. Action by UA’s board on future produc- tions is expected shortly. Stross has also started negotia- tions with indie producer Walter Bnlis., govcr„„,en. and pour any quantity of money into the pioducers are taking a much more pool, made a new deal with J. Ar- realistic view' now of the relation- thur Rank recently enabling it to g^ip between the American and rtop such payment. In the industries. There i, a Tins IS expected to touch off a .... ... j .u * blow'up on the w'hole pool setup at strong realization, it s said, that the next meeting, of the board of the English producers, w ith the aid the Motion Picture Export Assn., qj their government, placed them- through which the British agree- selves in a position of wholesale ment operates. , o ♦ j competition with Hollywood long ’British Earnings in IT. S. i before they were ready and that Dispute with the United King- gy{ them into trouble, dom government is over exactly ^ too early to say. the U. S. what should be construed as Brit- pxecs declare, whether this recog- Ish earnings in the U. S.” Basically, of the fa^ts will be helpful to who have re- ; spliced together by Hoffberg Films that goal. Agreement pushed . has also started negotia- 0 England dur-: under the title, “P untasia”... War-1 through by Joseph H. Seidelman,' with ludie producer Walter riprinrp that I rounding up newsreel shots | foreign chief while on visit to Wanger he disclo.sed. He expects Ks aeciare mat | f^om various racetracks for ‘nser-' applies in broad fashion « s‘8ned agreement for a joint film ivernment and ; tinn into forthcoming Story of 4,.. venture within a week or so. Brit- tion into forthcoming Story oi Seabiscuit” Aaron Stell directed and edited “The Soundman.” one i ‘ ^ of the educational shorts sponsored , luiuit. AarAw ^tpirftirpeteri *o not only currently blocked ster- 1^/ ” on?, i ling but al.so that amas.sed in the the Anglo-American pact has by practice and agreement been inter- preted to state that into the pool should go earnings only of Briti.sh- niade pix “owned by British inter- e.sts.” In other words, British-made pix owned by American interests— as in the ca.se of deals by Sclznick. Goldwyn and 20th-Fox with Sir Alexander Korda—are not in- cluded. That’s the cause of the battle within the Yank industry. Beyond that, however, disagree- ment starts with the U. K. The British government maintains that the only money computable as be- longing to the pool should be those dollars actually remitted from the U. S. Americans maintain that the figure should be actual earnings here, without taking out the cost of operations of the J. Arthur Rank. Sir Alexander Korda and other Brlti.sh organizations in the U. S. and their expenditures on institu- tional advertising, equipment, etc. Such charges, it is claimed, are not the business of the U. S. indus- try and it should not be penalized ^ eenuiMi HlOtt PHOTOS 9 r M.ide from your negotive or photo' Urrsu'pa!,sed in quality it any price NO NEGATIVE CHARGE- HO EXTRAS ^ 24 HOUR SERVICE OH REQUEST \ ; iitOs 1799 ptf too. 155 per tOOO * '' Fib Mail Photos (5 1 7) 136 pit 1000 • Postcards 123 pet 1000 Ifcurrted Enlifpmiflts |30ii40 13 85 (Ho Notative Owrst on 2 or more) ' 11. Kriegsmann. The Man Whost > “hotoeraphs Grace Billboard’s Covers PI121HI233 /’ 185West46thSt. ^>4 r notii.iroph^rr New YoA 19. N.V. .' aii NOW SPECIALIZINGV NMdBjgQIlk IN REFRBSHMENT \] SERVICE FOR j THEATRES/ Corp. Mcoas ams. lL^» wain «T. . miPfALO. M. V. . WA. 2SO* the American industry in its future , Helei relationships with the British, Feel- | sence ing is. though, that Harold WiLson, story president of the Board of Trade, Ron and other United Kingdom of- , prodi fiicials, will certainly be in a less ] films cocky mood when, in a few months. Hams they face American negotiators for | “The reappraisal of the Anglo-U. S. pact j than they were when the agree- ment was drawn up in March. 1948. Kon If the British will shuck off their , “ bulldog attitude and determination to go through with a policy } whether right or wrong, realization j of the facts in top governmental Ge and production quarters g i v e for F promise of a sizable reduction in ' story the 4(V r quota coming out of the filme negotiations, it is said. Above all, i Start the high quota is said to be recog- 1 retur niz.ed as an obvious erroi that publi makes the British look a little silly ing when they have to grant an excinp- tion tion to almost every theatre to keep I Re it alight. |the J As lor the $17,000,000 yearly ers v ceiling on remittances by U. S. land comtianies from the U. K., there’s uncertainty whether tliat can he raised. Britain’s general economic >lc( condition is undoubtedly bad and it will play on that to a fare-thee- . well in rcsi.sting an increase, it is Ca .said. However, final results may mitta depend on how tough the Ameri- U. S cans are in tlieir dealings — and .Ii)hn that may hinge on some conces- interi sions which a few companies arc Piclu winning individually from the day British. lhat Noticeable among U. S industry of tl execs, however, is a hardening in (wo-i attitude toward Britain. A couple from years ago there was a sympathetic Ml feeling and a “you-can’l-get-hlood- exph out-of-a-stonc” viewpoint toward with the British. Now. a combination of He c factors has changed that consider- deals ahlN. First is the continued cco- agei> noiiiic crisis despite the huge ba.ssv amounts of Marshall Plan money aN v and other help given by the U. S.. the There s a feeling that the British fran are doing a little crying of “Wolf" M< and that a few million dollars more olhci to the American industry isn t go- Ing to work any hardship in the vidu; chronic economic crisis. • by the Motion Picture Industry Film Project, this lime at Colum- bia. , , , Gloria de Ilav n femme lead opposite Red Skelton in “Yellow Cab Man” at Metro Thomas Gomez plavs Mexican general in “Eagle and the Hawk" for Pine- Thomas at Paramount “U. S. Mail” is the new tag on “l*oslal In- spector” at Par . 20th-Fox bought “The Man Who Sank Hie Navy.” Satevepost story by William Fay, as starrer for Paul Douglas Helen Deutsch taking leave ab- sence from IMetro to work on own story. “Love Is Not Enough” Ron Ormond and Ira Webb’s new production unit to turn oiit^ action films for Screen Guild. Bill Wil- I One restricting factor—and still a question mark—is what Rank’s I pix which U will handle can earn in the U. S. If later imports, such as “Christopher Columbus.” can j rack up solid grosses similar to i “Hamlet.” all U’s .sterling problems : should be answered. That is be- cause much of the Yank distrib’s frozen currency in England can be used to buy Western Hemisphere rights similar to the present five- picture deal. Balance of the iced coin is to be devoted to either participating in [productions which Rank now has under way or in joint co-produc- tion ventures in the future. In the latter category, present ceiling venture within a week or so. Brit- isher al.so declared that his outfit has been approached by an im- portant major on a long range program but refused to disclose its identity. World Screenplays, he said, plans a minimum of four films annually. It goes into production the end of this month with “World Premiere,” starring Luise Rainer, Jean-Pierre Aumont and Eric Port- man. Pic is being scripted by Rattigan and directed by Anthony Asquith. New York Theatres Hams’ gunfight^ role in Nat Holt s been fixed at four features. “The Cariboo Trail. Eagle Lion Formula ! ' Provision in pact wbicli gives U n LI* > lir Western Hemisphere rights to Kcpublic S fV2ir ruin inve films is similar in nature to ^ iiT* 1 r» III recently made by F^agle Lion With rrn7fin lll0n6V with the British filmmaker, it has T11U1 I lUACU J learned. U bought the rights Hollywood. Aug. 16. , here on the basis of a guarantee; George Waggner's next picture fjgypp y^.jlh Hank privileged to take 1 for Republic relea.se will be a war overage and. in turn, sold Brit- j story. “The Road to Anzio. to ne rights to a group of U’s pix to filmed in Italy with frozen coin, same terms. In the! Start of the picture awaits the American outfit ac- j return of Herbert J. vales. quired U. S. rights to “The Red public chief, who has been inspect- ghoes” and other.s in exchange for ing the frostbitten money situa- , gjvjng British rights to “Tulsu” tion in Europe. , and other EL product. Return of Yates may also niean y $2,000,000 the go sign on a pair of Ro.\ | jn sterling for the five pix. Quintet ers westerns, to be made in Eng- jndude “Hamlet,” now well on the land with impounded luiids. way to liquidation, and “Chris-j I topher Columbus” which remains a gamble until its U. S. premiere on Columbus Day. The $2,000,000 LorHtn YOUNG HOLM. W tothesiable i —^ nowiKivoii B WAT » 4» »I NM. WUIS* fro4wc«ien SlttrrWiQ \ BWflNOISIU-fMMini QMIKRMISPPIDIIE CiriBW Cdnt CO/tlMMK CAlVtr V VIC J k MlOaliT _ , .• rv., Kiioiuir uiiiii k.'. o. 1.11 fiiiici I* uii McCarthy Cautions un coiumbus Da.v. The $2,000,000 Forciirn Remittances represents a sum of 500.000 frozen pounds which U thereby converts Cautious optimisni on the le- dollars. • 44 . . B.... 4 Irklxfik'i/l f/\i* * mittance situation abroad for tlie U. S. industry was expressed by .John G. McCarth.\. director of the international division of the Motion Picture .Assn, of America on Mon- day 115'. McCarthy reported at that time to the foreign managers of the major companies on the two-month trip through Europe from which he returned last week. MP.\A exec’s tour was stricHy cxploratorx and to aciiuainl him with the on-the-ground .situation. He engaged in no negotiations or deals, hut told tlie foreign man- agers of Ills lalk.s witli U. S. em- bassy and legation execs as well' as with government oflicials in the Scandinavian countries and France. Meeting of foreign m.'inagcrs otherwise was largely taken up with discussion of plans for indi- vidual comiiany selling in Ger- many after Dec. 31 of Ihi^ jear.. Includes 3 Coward Pix I Films in which U participates in- cludes two pix which Noel Coward is currently producing. First of these, “The Astonished Heart” was viewed by Seidelnian in rough print. Second is on the planning lioard. Both are figured to be par- ticularly aimed at Hie American market because of Coward’.s knowl- edge of Yank tastes. Foieign execs of other majors predict firow in ks at future meet- ings of Hu* Motion Picture Assn, of Aineriia because of the C-Rank deal. Umbrage is taken becau.se Hie pact spells the last riles to the “B” pool provision of the .Anglo- American agreement. Under that provision, earnings of British films in the U. S. were to be divided among the majors as added dollars to the $17,000,000 which could be remitted from Britain yearly. RADIO CITY MUSIC HAU ^ Rwk«f«ll*r C«flt«r I Judy GARLAND • Von JOHNSON t "IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTJME" I t olor by TF.( lIMf'OI.OK ^ A Metro-Ooldwyn-Mayer Pirtur* ^ SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION THE LOUIS DE ROCHEMONT eroiluitlon of ^'Lost Boundaries'’ BEATRICE PEARSON MEL FERRER A FILM CLASSICS RiLEASf A ^ T fY D A f iinilil ionrd PA J I W H 4Sth Ml. RICHARD WIDMARK LINDA DARNELL VERONICA LAKE SLATTERY'S HURRICANE' A 20lh Ctnlury.F»i Plttur* On Viflfty Slate—Si4 Caetar. tvriya NaitM Da lea State—"CARMEN ’ Starriat CAROL LYNNE, ARNOLD SHOOA =R0XY 'rru*—